102 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



grounds and tracks, because it is believed that the practice is unfair, 

 it being manifestly' the case that in some situations these grounds 

 will present a pleasing and satisfactory appearance, even though the 

 minimum of attention and labor is bestowed upon them, while others 

 can hardh' be beautiful though the keeper should tear his hair in 

 anxiet}' over the matter — besides, the thing should be done upon 

 principle, as a matter of dut^' and as a part of good system in carr}'- 

 ing forward the interests of the road." 



Up to the year 1881 much had been done in setting shrubs and 

 trees along the line ; parks had been laid out and depot grounds 

 graded. In the spring of 1881, Mr. Tucker, as General Manager, 

 conceived the idea of beautifying the stations with flowers, and as 

 Freeport was a station which seemed well fitted for the work, a 

 portion of the grounds, about one hundred feet long and twenty- 

 four feet wide, was prepared and beds laid out. In the center of 

 the garden the name of the station was worked in colors, so that a 

 person riding on the cars could easily read the words "Freeport." 

 The plants used were those that would bloom most freelj' through 

 the summer months, so that by the middle of Juh' there was a fine 

 show of flowers. The result of the experiment was very satisfactory, 

 and in the spring of 1882 Mr. Tucker decided to decorate the prin- 

 cipal stations along the line of the road, where the grounds would 

 admit of it. As a result, Danville Junction, Auburn, Leeds Sta- 

 tion and Winthrop, on the back route, and Woodford's, Freeport, 

 Brunswick and Waterville, on the lower road, were improved as 

 principal places, while there were quite a number of stations that 

 had a small circle or bed of plants to break up the plain green of 

 their lawns, making a tine contrast. This 3ear was also a success, 

 the majority or nearly- every one doing very nicely. The spring of 

 1883 was the same as the spring of 1882, onh- more stations were 

 supplied with plants and some changes were made in the arrange- 

 ments of the beds, the results being satisfactory. So that now the 

 decorating of the road has become so familiar to the travelling pub- 

 lic that one will read with pleasure the reports given by the summer 

 tourists from all pai'ts of our country. 



While giving praise to each and all who have had the care, to a 

 gi'eater or less extent, of the grounds as laid out and planted, I feel 

 that I ought to mention the gardens at Crowley's Junction, Leeds 

 Station and Winthrop, which were unusuallv fine, particularly those 

 at Crowley's and Leeds. These were under the supervision of Mrs. 



