STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 99 



as ^e can hold for the purpose that this meeting is held, and just 

 as much as we can impress upon the minds of all, both old and 

 young, the idea that we have something here worth living for, and 

 that we are going to make emblematical for all time until it shall 

 become a matter of history, just by that much shall we gain as a 

 State and as a part of our nation. "Within the memory of many of 

 us is the time when Maine was considered a little too far north. 

 My father used to remark when the cold nights of winter came that 

 "The State of Maine is a little too far north." Very soon there 

 came an idea into the minds of many that Maine was too far east, 

 and then commenced an exodus to the West. — "Westward, ho !" 

 was the watchward. But the idea is becoming apparent to all of 

 us, old and young, farmer and mechanic, that the State is in just 

 exactly the right place. We would not have it moved a degree 

 South or West, but we are gomg to stay here and help develop it 

 and make it worthy of having an emblem and a good one, in the 

 great national garland that is to come. 



Mr. Leland — I was somewhat struck with the conclusion at 

 which Prof. Fernald arrived in regard to the forests of Maine, 

 particularly the retrograde movement that is taking place in the 

 growth of pine. It seems to me there may be some facts that he 

 has not taken into consideration in regard to this matter. As I 

 have passed through the southern portion of the State I have heard 

 good, sensible men in that section make the remark that there was 

 a larger area of pine in the southern half of the State than fifty or 

 seventy-five years ago ; not that there was a larger amount of 

 timber, but of pine growth. We who are farmers in this county 

 are aware of the fact that our pasture lands and lands not culti- 

 vated spring up readily to forest growth, and very much of that 

 growth is pine. Of course we cut this pine where we wish to use 

 this land as pasturage ; at the same time there are acres and acres 

 of this small growth that is coming forward very rapidly, as Sec- 

 retary McKeen stated was the case on his farm. 



Mr. Brown — The remarks of Mr. Leland bring to my mind 

 something that has come under my personal observation in relation 

 to the pine. Perhaps I have seen more of the pine growth of Piscat- 

 aquis county than any man here. I have explored the forests along 

 our lakes and rivers, and I claim to know something about the 

 pine. I have seen thousands and tens of thousands of acres of 

 our finest spruce, which is now being cut off and taken to the mar- 



