356 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



taking active measnros towards a conservation of the valuable 

 timber resources of the various provinces, and it is also suggested 

 to engage in the attempt to establish tree-growing on the extensive 

 prairies of Manitoba. The able reports on this subject, with 

 accompan3'ing map, showing the northern limits of the principal 

 forest trees of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains, published in 

 the transactions of the Montreal Horticultural Society- and Fruit- 

 growers' Association of the Province of Quebec for the year 1881, 

 is a forcible reminder of a dut}' which our State owes to her citizens 

 to initiate measures for tiie care and economical use of her remain- 

 ing sii[)ply of timber. And it seems to be one of the appropriate 

 functions of a society like our own to exercise its influence to edu- 

 cate the public mind on this most important of subjects pertaining 

 to the agricultural and coramerical prosperity of the State. 



There are man\' powerful reasons why the subject of forestry and 

 the planting and protection of trees should be a prominent matter of 

 investigation. But it may be thought that our Society, under its 

 present name and organization, cannot properly' include that with 

 all other topics belonging to the undoubted sphere of its work. If 

 so, and it is believed to be desirable to enlarge its sphere of useful- 

 ness and employ it in a new line of duties, I think it can be easily 

 accomplished by giving our society a new name, and b^'' means of 

 slight constitutional changes if necessary, endow it with ample 

 power to devote itself to the betterment of some phases of our agri- 

 culture, from the consideration of which we are now virtually 

 debarred. 



Two years ago. your corresponding secretary was a member of a 

 committee to consider the propi'iety of changing the title of this 

 society from Maine Pomological Society to Maine Horticultural 

 Society. It was subsequently reported that it was believed by said 

 committee that any change of name of this societ}- was inexpedient. 

 Since that time, I think I have seen certain reasons win- it might be 

 for the advantage of our State and the industrial welfare of its 

 people, that we might be empowered in some way to adapt and 

 apply our energies to some branches of inquiry and labor, other 

 than those strictly embraced in the special subject of Pomology. 



The magnitude of the fruit growing and shipping operations 

 in some of our northwesterly States, and the almost marvellous 

 increase of the demand for our api)les in foreign countries is exer- 

 cising the minds of fruit-culturists of those States on the matter of 



