STATE POMOLOGICAL .SOCIETY. 93 



<letermine. These and many other familial' but vaguely eouipre- 

 "hended objects are governed by natural laws, and the earlier and the 

 ,inore thoroughly the farmer understands these laws the more -success- 

 ful he is likely to be. 



Yes. you say, but doesn't the farmer learn all he need know of 

 these things by experience and isn't experience, after all, the best 

 'teacher? Experience is a oood teacher, but, you know, it has been 

 said for many a year she keeps a dear school, and this we have found 

 to our sorrow in all the walks of life. The lessons the fanner learns 

 there are not only expensive but often they have to be repeated several 

 itimes over before their meaning is heeded, and some, it seems, hardly 

 learn theii' sigtiiticance at all. luit go on in the same old blundering 

 way, laying the blame of their want ot success at the door of bad 

 iuck or something other than the true cause of their ill fortune. Nor 

 ■is this strange. The person who has not been trained to habits of 

 observation and quick perception can hardly l)e expected to be any- 

 thing else than a slow scholar even in learning the habits and nature 

 ■of objects by which he is daily surrounded. While facts established 

 and theories and opinions advanced by scientists are of great value 

 to the iaimcr, a spiiitof incjuirv and an observing, attentive eye are 

 likewise of inestimable worth to him who would have nature lend 

 him the assistance she is always ready to give ; and, to possess these 

 qualities in their l)est estate, he leally needs an early training. 

 But as it is never too late to learn, it is better to begin late than not 

 3it all. 



Again, it may be said. Do not the farmeri have an opp:>rtunit_y to 

 acquire all necessary information through the columns of the agri- 

 cultural papers and the bulletins and reports of agricidtuial schools 

 :and experiment stations? There is an opportunity to learn much, 

 very much, in this way, and I am truly thankful our State is so well 

 favored as it is in this regard. 1 have felt sometimes the past 

 few years as if such aids and the information and inspiration ema- 

 nating from well conducted agricultural societies, present comj)any 

 wot excepted, were the chief power which is preserving the life and 

 vigor of many a farm in Maine. The reports of the Government 

 Bureau, as well as of the State Board of Agriculture likewise, often 

 ■contain much of value and their leading is to be commended. But, 

 while I would do all 1 could to encourage the use of these and simi- 

 lar helps and believe that much may be gained thereby, the fact re- 

 mains^ and I think all present will agree, that much of the interest 



