Maine State Pomological Society. 



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TRANSACTIOJSrS FOR 1876. 



The report herewith presented embraces the Transactions of the 

 Maine State Pomological Society,— so far as their publication is 

 deemed to be of interest to the members of the Society or the 

 public at large, or to be required by law or iisage, — during the 

 year 1876; closing with the Winter Meeting held (by adjourn- 

 ment) January 23d and 24th, 1877. 



The primary object of our organization is " the promotion of 

 fruit culture," as an interest important to individuals and to the 

 State ; and among the various subjects connected with and tend- 

 ing to this object, which have received more or less attention 

 during the past year, the experience and investigations of the 

 Society have shown that no other is of such paramount and pres- 

 ent importance as high and thorough cultivation. Accordingly the 

 attention of the Society has been largely directed to this point. 



It has also been found that many inferior or unprofitable varie- 

 ties of fruit are grown in the State ; and constant efforts have 

 been made to diminish them, — by the frequent and full discussion 

 of varieties, by discouraging their presentation at our exhibitions 

 and by marking them with disapprobation in our fruit lists, — and 

 to encourage the substitution of better varieties in their stead. 



The Society has as yet been able to give but little attention to 

 the production of new varieties, nor has it made any systematic 

 efforts to introduce and test new varieties from abroad. These 

 subjects will, undoubtedly, as they should, receive a due share of 

 attention in the future. 



It is a well established fact that we have, in the larger portion 

 of the State, the requisite conditions of soil and climate for the 

 production of apples of high quality and of the finest texture ; of 



