STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 27 



from stone as western prairies, and nearly as fertile, produce 

 abundant crops of hay for our herds, while the hillsides, extend- 

 ing back from the intervales, furnish sweet and succulent pas- 

 turage ; while few farms are without suitable sites for trees 

 producing fruit adapted to our climate. In particular, we are 

 successful in the culture of the apple, the prince of fruits of 

 ncrthern climes. 



The hills, back from the river, are covered with noble forests 

 of rock-maple from which our industrious husbandmen extract 

 great quantities of maple syrup, which finds a ready market in 

 the cities of the country, while Titcomb's maple candy is known 

 in Boston and New York as the criterion by which other makes 

 are judged. 



Sweet corn is one of our most profitable products and some 

 eight or ten establishments are devoted to canning it, and I think 

 I may say, without fear of contradiction, that Franklin county 

 canned corn is the best in the world. 



In recent years more attention has been paid to the products 

 of the dairy, and the herds of beautiful Jerseys and Guernseys, 

 which meet the eye on every hand, as we drive through the 

 country, attest the intelligent interest shown by our farmers in 

 this industry. 



The raising of oxen for labor and for the beef market has 

 always commended itself to our farmers. The huge forms of 

 the white-faced Herefords, the black-and-white Holsteins and 

 the clean red Durhams always compete for the blue ribbons at 

 our annual exhibitions. 



We have made some progress in the cultivation of apples, and 

 while we may not excel in this particular branch of agriculture, 

 yet I see that your secretary estimates that we sold over $200,000 

 worth of apples last year ; and the names of Whittier, Purington, 

 Knowlton and others, members of your society, show that we 

 have intelligent and practical pomologists among us. 



We are accustomed to speak of our Sandy River Valley as 

 the garden of Maine and we believe we are justified in our esti- 

 mate of our beautiful valley. 



We welcome you to Farmington, the shire town of our county, 

 its commercial and geographical center and its most populous 

 town. We show you here a town without factories, without 

 shipping or foreign commerce ; simply a town supported by agri- 



