STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 419 



B. Strattai-d of Monroe, B. Plummer of West Winterport, B. Web- 

 ber and H. Webber of Monroe, Freeman Partridge of Prospect, and 

 Charles Bellows of Freedom, and these are bnt samples. It is 

 beoinning to be understood that we have lots of excellent orchard 

 sections, and every farm has at least, with hardly an exception, one 

 or more good orchard sites. 



In pears, we are just starting in here and there, and this fruit can, 

 as yet, scarcely- be reckoned as raised in our county, but it has a 

 future with us nevertheless. With grapes the attention has been 

 longer directed, and a vine or two is now found near almost every 

 home. Our people are just learning how easil}- the}' can be grown, 

 and what a blessing the}* are. Strawberries are cultivated in a little 

 wider extent each year, and we have entered upon the cultivation 

 of this fruit in earnest. With raspberries, blackberries, currants 

 and gooseberries, the same ma}' be said, and though for a long time 

 past the}' have had a place here and there in gardens, as yet no syste- 

 matic culture has obtained. Plums and cherries are grown to some 

 extent, but that terrible scourge " black knot" dampens the ardor 

 and crushes the hope at present. 



On the whole the outlook is hopeful. There is movement in the 

 right directions. There is progress and improvement. 



