ANNUAL REPORT. 



245 



has accomplished in spite of many discouragements and 

 most unfavorable conditions. 



'Mv. Hale said further that both he and his partner 

 had faith in the venture, and that they expect to win out in 

 the end. It has, however, cost a lot of labor and capital, 

 and many mistakes have been -made. The peaches have 

 not been an entire success, but apples grow to perfection 

 on this location and will bring ultimate success to the un- 

 dertaking, showing what can be done on our rough New 

 England hills in producing as fine fruit as ever grew in the 

 far West, and with it all, concluded Mr. Hale, we have had 

 our share of the fun as we went along. 



The Rev. \\'. W. Bowdish, one of the prominent 

 Methodist clergymen of the state, was called on for a 

 speech, and responded pleasantly, complimenting Messrs. 

 Hale and Coleman on the work they are doing, which he 

 considered almost marvelous. It shoAvs that fine orchards 

 may be established on what was once, thought he, but 

 waste land. 



Others who spoke expressed their wonder that sucli 

 fine results had been accomplished under such great diffi- 

 culties, and all present were unanimous in awarding to 

 the hosts the first prize as successful orchardists. 



The rest of the day was spent in going over the or- 

 chards and admiring the beautiful fruit. While it was 

 seemingly rocks and boulders on every hand and good soil 

 and level ground hard to find, yet there were the fine, vig- 

 orous apple trees, thousands of them, all laden with splen- 

 did high-colored fruit, as fine as anything ever grown in 

 New England, thus proving that such a soil and location 

 is capable of producing the best apples when properly 

 handled, and brains and energy and capital are applied 

 with faith in the results. And yet many of those present 

 were tempted to question Mr. Hale's judgment in locating 

 on such rough soil, when land less rough and equally as 

 well situated could be had for nearly the same price and 

 far less cost to clear and cultivate. 



