An early voyager, Martin Pring, sailed up the Piscataqua in 1603. He was searching for the Sassafras tree, thought to be the elixir of life. They didn't find much sassafras, but they discovered the stream banks were covered with wild strawberry vines.

On August 16,1663 John Josselyn of London, came to Maine to visit his brother Henry Josselyn in Scarborough. John stayed for eight years and made it his business to study and discover all of the natural and physical rarities of this new found world.

He returned to London in 1671 and began writing a book about all of his discoveries. In 1672 his book New England Rarities, Discovered was published, then in 1674 his second book An Account of Two Voyages to New England was published.

During the 1750's there was a large number of homesteads that sprang up along the fertile sections of Maine's rivers. Some were on land granted by the royalty of Europe, others were men of great wealth and culture, which greatly advanced the horticultural development.

The first brick house built in Portland was built by General Peleg Wadsworth in 1786. He was the first representive to Congress from the district of Maine. His daughter Zilpah married Stephen Longfellow, one of America's most admired poets, in this brick house, where they both lived until death.

In 1790 Dr.Samuel Deane published The New England Farmer or Georgical Dictionary. He believed that all citizens, regardless of their occupation should have the avocation of farming.

His book was the first of its kind published on this side of the Atlantic, and was universally consulted by agriculturists. He was the pastor of the First Parish Church in Portland from 1764 to 1814. He was also the vice president of Bowdoin College, where he had lots of opportunity to spread his gospel of good gardening.

One of the most distinguished citizens to call Maine his home was General Knox. He was the first Secretary of War. In 1793 he built a beautiful mansion Montpelier. It quickly became the gathering palce for democracy in its truest form.

Here is a saying from the times "Oh welcome was the silken garb, but welcome was the blouse, when Knox was lord of half of Maine and kept an open house."

The Maine Agricultural Society held the first state fair at Hallowell in 1820.