MAINE STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Transactions for the Year 1889-go. 



It has been a, source of pleasure to the writer, as he has hastily 

 reviewed the work of our Society, to uote how faithfully its early 

 officers devoted themselves to the interests of fruit culture in this 

 State. Since its organization in 1873, it has been the principal 

 organized agency in the promotion of fruit culture. It has brought 

 fruit growers together, it has spread out before the public beautiful 

 displays of fruits and flowers ; but the chief work of the Society has 

 been in the dissemination of a practical knowledge of fruit raising. 

 This knowledge is twofold in its character ; on the one hand 'it has 

 aimed at the raising of fruit as a home luxury — a luxury which 

 every man who controls a foot of ground owes to himself and 

 family ; on the other hand it has been the object of the Society to 

 recognize and promote the raising of fruit in our State as one of 

 the most profitable of our agricultural industries. In the early days 

 of our Society there were only local markets for our fruit, the sur- 

 plus going, as a rule, only so far as Boston and surrounding towns. 

 To-day, in extent and importance, fruit raising has become one ©f 

 the leading features of Maine farming and not alone are our apples 

 sought for in our home markets, but foreign buyers seek them for 

 shipment to the cities of the old world. 



The year 1888 was not generally regarded as a profitable apple 

 year in the State, and yet a small orchard under the shadow of Mt. 

 Blue, where twenty-five years ago few men would have ventured to 

 set trees at all, the industrious owner received w'er $400 for his 

 apples, and the 1889 crop will net him more than this. Along side 

 this farm are thousands of acres of land which are used only as sheep 

 pastures and woodlots. In another section of the same county, not 



