STATE P0MGL0G1CAL SOCIETY. 25 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 By Z. A. Gilbert, President, North Greene. 



In accordance with a custom adhered to from the first organ- 

 ization of this society it devolves upon me to call your attention 

 at this time to some of the conditions bearing upon and affecting 

 the success of the fruit industry as carried on within our State 

 at the present time, and suggest, if may be, such changes and 

 improvements as seem to offer still further success to those who 

 are engaged in prosecuting the fruit industry among us. While 

 in the past there have been seasons of disappointment and of 

 discouragement, years of special invasion of insect and crypto- 

 gamic enemies that have in greater or less degree defeated the 

 well-directed efforts of intelligent growers, yet through it 

 all the industry stands triumphant. Up to the present time there 

 has always been a silver lining to the cloud that for a time has 

 turned its darker shadows over our vision and obscured the path- 

 way of progress. But intelligent study and persevering effort 

 has at all times sooner or later lightened the way to continued 

 success. After all the obstacles encountered in the way the 

 fruit industry never held out a more inviting prospect to intelli- 

 gent effort than at the present time. Whatever may be encoun- 

 tered in the future it is perfectly safe to claim that the industry 

 will come through all obstacles triumphant. The people need 

 fruit. It is ordained that they shall have it, and they are going 

 to have it — more and more, and better and better as the years 

 go on and wealth increases. 



The apple crop of the present year has not been served in like 

 bounty throughout the fruit growing sections of the State. 

 Through this northern belt of the State where the crop was so 

 bountiful a year ago, namely, Northern Oxford and Northern 

 Androscoggin, Franklin, Somerset, a section of Kennebec and 

 all of Penobscot, Piscataquis and Waldo counties, the crop this 

 year has proved comparatively a light one. But in all that part 

 of the State south of the territory named the crop has proved, 

 not one of the largest, but close to a full one. At the same time 

 the fruit was of large size and unusually free from imperfections. 

 While the "scab" threatened for a time serious damage, yet finally 



