270 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



MAINE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS FOR 1886. 



President — Charles S. Pope, Manchester. 



Vice Presidents — S. K. Sweetser, Cumberland Center; D. J. Briggs, South 

 Turner. 



Secretary — Samuel L. Boardman, Augusta. 



Treasurer — D. H. Knowlton, Parmington. 



Executive Committee — The President and Secretary, ex-officio; P. E. Nowell, 

 Pairfield ; L. H. Blossom, Turner Centre ; W. P. Atherton, Hallowell. 



The winter meeting of this society was held at Turner on the 17th and 18th 

 of February. It also held its 14th annual exhibit in connection with the State 

 Agricultural Society. 



The annual appropriation from the State is $500 which is used for the cur- 

 rent expenses of the society. The society has a permanent fund of $820, 

 accrued from the sale of 82 life memberships at ten dollars each. 



The annual convention was a charming meeting and while dealing with the 

 practical questions of commercial fruit growing, the ornamental side of horti- 

 culture was well represented by delightful papers from experts. It would 

 almost seem, judging from the proceedings, that the name of the society ought 

 to be a little broader. 



The President's address recommended greater care in the selection of 

 nursery stock; more thought put into the fall exhibitions, absolute honesty in 

 packing fruits and putting only the best in the market; uniform packages; 

 increased facilities for the gathering of fruit statistics; greater attention to be 

 given the embellishment of home premises. 



Secretary Boardman says in a private note : 



" What we need more than all else is a system of reports extending from one 

 State pomological society to every other similar society, keeping them correctlv 

 informed of the fruit crop each year, in every State. Your society should be 

 able to send us a correct report of the yield of fruit in your State, and the 

 price. We should send to you a similar one, and each and every other State 

 pomological or horticultural society should do the same. This I regard as one 

 of the most important and necessary works for our societies to undertake. I 

 wish some plan of this kind might be agreed upon and carried out." 



