21 



March, 1885, from Hon. S. L. Boardman, announcing that the 

 station was to be organized and asking if I would become its 

 director. I cjuickly concluded to accept the offer, a decision that 

 I have never regretted. Because I could not at once leave my 

 duties at the Pennsylvania State College, Prof. Walter Balen- 

 tine consented to become Acting Director of the station for 

 three months, a position which he could not have filled more 

 faithfully and successfully had he expected to permanently 

 assume the directorship of the institution. When I reached 

 Orono late in June Prof. Balentine transferred the work to me 

 in excellent condition and placed at my service wise and helpful 

 counsel that proved so valuable to me during the years, all too 

 few, that I was permitted to have him as an associate. 



Although I was the first director of the station I was not the 

 first active and permanent member of its staff. Mr. James M. 

 Bartlett, who was associated with me in chemical work at the 

 Pennsylvania State College, was elected Assistant Chemist to 

 the Maine Station in April, 1885, and at once left Pennsylvania 

 to take up his new duties, and during the entire existence of 

 the station he has been a faithful and efficient member of its 

 staff. The only time at which I knew him to be in danger of 

 losing his position was a few strenuous moments following his 

 persistent attempt to administer a wash bottle baptism to Presi- 

 dent Gilbert and Dr. Fernald when they were vainly trying to 

 repel his purpose and pay an official visit to the station labora- 

 tory. If you ask him about the event doubtless he will be able 

 to recall it. During the first year of the station's life two other 

 members were added to its staff, Prof. L. H. Merrill and Prof. 

 Gilbert A. Gowell, both of whom served the institution for a 

 long period. 



Those of you who know the Maine Experiment Station only 

 a? it now exists with its generous maintenance fund, its able 

 staff, its varied activities and its established influence in many 

 directions, can have little realization of the circumstances that 

 attended its formation and early efforts. I want to present to 

 you as best I can a picture of the station as I knew it in its 

 infancy. That was a day of small things. The Board of Man- 

 agers was small in number, being composed of only five mem- 

 bers, but when I name those men, Prof. Walter Balentine, Hon. 

 Z. A. Gilbert, Hon. S. L. Boardman, William Downs and Ben- 

 jamin F. Pease, you will see that it was not small in courage, 



