STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 35 



In the tendenc}' of the different branches of business in our land 

 to protect their own interests by organized effort, we often feel that 

 the importance of that which relates to the soil is too often over- 

 looked. 



We are not a "potato society" though if we occupied that place 

 we raight well feel proud of the position, for there is hardly a well- 

 ordered table in the land which does not have the potato in its cui- 

 sine three times a day, seven days in the week, and fifty-two weeks 

 in the year. Is it a degrading employment then to raise potatoes 

 and supply this unanimous want? This Society, then, would be 

 doing a grand work in encouraging its production and improving the 

 methods and practices connected therewith. People are often wish- 

 ing that the peach orchards of Delaware and New Jersey and the 

 orange groves of Florida could be transferred to our own State, for- 

 getting that the potatoes of Aroostook are far more profitable than 

 these fruits. 



This organization is devoted, first of all, to the promotion of fruit 

 growing here in our own State. Seventeen years ago the Society 

 was organized and started in its work, and every year from that 

 time to this it has held these annual winter meetings. The business 

 of fruit production at the time of the organization of the Society was 

 quite limited compared with the present time. The idea was ad- 

 vanced by the Society in its early 3'ears that should we multiply the 

 quantity of fruit produced by the thousand, we should have a better 

 market than we were then having. Results have proved the sound- 

 ness of that statement. In place of a limited demand such as we 

 then had we find European agents coming across the water in quest 

 of our fruit for shipment abroad. This could not have been so if 

 we had not succeeded in producing sufficient quantities to attract 

 the attention of these buyers. 



Our Society has been at work not for its own benefit, but for the 

 benefit of the public, and it is a justice belonging to its faithful mem- 

 bers to state that up to the present time none of its officers have 

 ever received any compensation for the time spent in its service, 

 save that recently a pittance of a salary has been paid to the Secre- 

 tary. Year after year the exacting duties have been performed 

 promptly and we trust efficiently, with no other motive than a desire 

 to promote fruit growing in the State. It is proper that the people 

 who have extended this warm welcome should understand these 

 things and know that it is not for pay that we are working. True 



