Martin compactification for discrete potential theory and the mean value property

A converse of the well-known theorem on themean value property of harmonic functions is given. It is shown that a positive measurable function is harmonic if it possesses arestricted mean value property. Earlier proofs obtained using the probabilistic techniques were given by Veech, Heath and Baxter. Our approach is based on a Martin type compactification built up with the help of some quite elementarya priori inequalities foraveraging kernels.