162 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



MAINE FRUIT AT THE BAY STATE. 

 It was a capital idea sending samples of Maine apples to the 

 Boston exhibition, and the Pomological Society is entitled to com- 

 pliments on its enterprise. The collection made a fine showing, not 

 only in itself, but also in comparison with the Massachusetts samples, 

 as the many premiums taken fully testify. It is to be regretted, 

 however, that more time could not have been given to the matter 

 and a more complete list of varieties grown in the State made up for 

 the tables, and in case of some of the kinds, larger samples selected. 

 The plate of Baldwins, for instance, while perfect in form and color- 

 ing, were not so large as could have easily been selected and with 

 equal perfection, while several of our choice apples, native to the 

 State, were not in the collection. 



It was no small honor to Maine fruit that we should carry off the 

 highest honors on dish of Kings in so strong a competition and with 

 one of the most popular fruits in the whole list, as this kind through 

 its fine color, high quality and large size has now become. E. H. 

 Keniston, Dixmont, grew the samples taking the honors. Mr. E. 

 W. Wood, the superintendent in charge of the fruit tables, well and 

 widely known in connection with the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society and chairman of its fruit committee, paid us the high com- 

 pliment of admitting that Maine can grow more perfect fruit of this 

 justly popular variety than can be done in that State ; and he further 

 stated that it was conceded that although the Baldwin was a native 

 of that State, yet Maine grown Baldwins were superior to those pro- 

 duced in its native locality. The superiority of Maine apples is 

 chiefly in their perfection. While selected samples hardly run as 

 large as those grown in Massachusetts, yet in freedom from imper- 

 fections in coloring and in that gloss and finish which renders our 

 Maine apples so attractive in appearance, as well as in firmness and 

 flavors, our Maine fruits are not matched by anything grown in more 

 southern latitudes or on lower altitudes. This could have been 

 further proved by numerous varieties not on the tables at Boston. 



But our parent State can beat us out and out on pears. Of the 

 later kinds there was a fine display. The most remarkable showing, 

 however, were the nineteen platters of Duchess, varying so little in 

 size that the committee had to resort to the scales to place the pre- 

 miums. The extremes in the prize dishes, twelve specimens, were 

 thirteen pounds and fourteen ounces for the first to twelve and three- 



