32 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



market is found for them ; while their sale at home has been largely 

 increased, and their use has become so common that they are now 

 considered one of the necessary articles of food. More interest has 

 been manifested in the cultivation of flowers, so that now they are 

 used for adornment on all occasions. To-day they add much to 

 the beauty and appearance of this hall. 



"The Maine State Pomological Society" acquired its charter 

 February 17, 1873, under the auspices of the "State Board of Agri- 

 culture," which had then been organized many years, and was doing 

 much to encourage the cultivation of fruits and flowers. To these 

 various organizations, the County Farmers' Clubs and the County 

 Pomona Granges, the State owes this great progress. To the har- 

 monious actions, meetings and discussions of these organizations is 

 due also great improvement of the finer and intellectual character- 

 istics of the people. In furtherance of this progress, in the cultiva- 

 tion of fruits and flowers, and of the intellectual advancement of our 

 people, "The Bangor Horticultural Society" most cordially welcome 

 you to our beautiful city, trusting that your meeting here may be 

 both interesting and beneficial. 



EESPONSE BY HOM. Z. A. GILBERT. 



The members of this Society years ago caught on to something of 

 the possibilities of the business of fruit growing in our State from 

 their own experience and from opportunities of observation which 

 had been open to them. But the extent to which it had then been 

 carried on was limited. The orchards were small as compared with 

 the present day and nowhere among us very numerous. The idea 

 was entertained that the business ought to be developed. Out of 

 that idea the Society came into existence. It was incorporated by 

 the legislature with an annual appropriation of $bOO for its use, 

 subject to the condition that a sum not less than the amount named 

 should first be awarded and paid out in premiums. 



The method adopted for carrying on the work of encouragement 

 to the industry by the faithful men who had banded themselves 

 together was through exhibitions where results could be impressively 

 illustrated through a representation of the profits of the business, 

 and through such measure of instruction as could be conveyed by 

 word of mouth at the public meetings of the society. In these lines 

 up to the present time the work of the society has been carried on 



