44 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



here, Mr. Hale from Couuecticut, was there at that time,aud I remember 

 of telling my neighbors when I got home that they ought to have heard 

 his talk on small fruits, and it is a pleasure to me that he is with us to- 

 day for I am well satisfied that this meeting will be very instructive to us 

 all, as well as very entertaining. At tlie present time, here in Aroostook, 

 I think the farmers will be more than glad to have their attention drawn 

 from the potato question, for we, at the present time, seem to be potato 

 poor, if there is such a thing, but we have one thing to console us, and • 

 that is, our cellars are full of potatoes and salt is cheap, and there is 

 no need of any of us going hungrj^, even if these are hard times, as people 

 seem to be crjing. 



But if we should stop to compare with the times as they were thirty- 

 five years or so ago, when we used to make shaved shingles and lug them 

 out of the woods on our backs and get them to market the best waj* we 

 could and sell them for a few groceries getting as low as $1.75 or $2.00 

 per M. At that time buckwheat and cedar shingles were the only legal 

 tender we had. 



This was about the time the Kebellion broke out and everj- one needed 

 a few postage stamps to send letters to friends who went South, at this 

 time you had to almost beg to get money enough out of a load of shingles 

 to buy a postage stamp. I think those were the hard times instead of 

 now. At that time all of our shingles were hauled to Bangor with teams 

 and goods were taken in return and brought back. And you, Mr. Presi- 

 dent and gentlemen, could not have enjoj'ed a ride at that time as you 

 have now over the beautiful systems of the Maine Central and Bangor & 

 Aroostook Railroad. 



I remember well, although I was but a small boy, when my father 

 with a family of seven of us started from the town of China to move to 

 this couut}^ ; we had an express wagon with one horse to haul the family 

 and a double team to carry the goods and we were twelve da3's getting 

 to this town and the weather wasn't verj' good either ; and now we can 

 cross this continent and back in that time. Now we are within fifteen 

 hours" ride from Boston, one of the best markets in the United States. 

 So you can see there has a wondrous change come to this county within 

 a few years, and the latest and best of them all is the finishing of the 

 Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, which is one of the best systems in 

 Xew England. Look at our villages covering our beautiful valleys ana 

 hillsides, showing that we are a prosperous and happy people. We have 

 also some fine school buildings in our different villages showing that we 

 are alive to the work of giving our children a suitable education to fit 

 them for the work of life; we have also good churches in all parts of 

 our county showing that we are looking after the spiritual part as well 

 as the temporal and educational. The villages of Houlton, Caribou, Fort 

 Fairfield and Presque Isle are lighted by electricity, and each has a 

 good system of water works. 



AVhat has built up these prosperous villages living in so remote a part 

 of the State? It is not manufacturing by any moans, it is because they 



