STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 49 



apples are raised in each couaty. Of one thing we are certain if 

 we know what they do raise, tbe Society may be able to be of more 

 service to them than in the past. 



A condition of our collective exhibitions is that there shall be not 

 less than twtnty nor more than forty correctly named varieties of 

 apples. While we have had many fine collections of fruit in the 

 pa-t, it seems to me that it might be better to change the numbers, 

 making the less nwmhi'V fifteen and the larger thirty, but as a further 

 condition requiring thnt the collection shall consist of standard 

 apples. Possibly it would be a good plan to limit the collections to 

 varieties for which the Society offers premiums for single plates. 

 In this connection I have also tliouglit it might be proper for the 

 Society to offer a premium for collections of fruit not enumerated 

 in our premiums for single plates. The objects of such premiums 

 would be first to show the varieties grown in the State and second 

 to aid in the identification of varieties. The Society in this way 

 can largely extend its influence without encouraging the production 

 of more varieties. Make it a department visitors would examine 

 for names and information. Great care should be taken to have 

 them correctly named. In these times when hundreds of tree 

 agents are selling nursery stock such an exhi'ntion would be of 

 great service, for it may be important to know what not to plant 

 as well as to have the affirmative knowledge. 



List year the Society offered premiums for forty four varie'ies 

 of apples. Five specimens of each variety were required, except 

 where special premiums were offered, ar.d of these twelve specimens 

 of each were required. The specials were offered for Bsildwin, 

 Northern Spy, Gravenstein, Rhode Island Greening, Roxbury 

 Russet. Tompkins King. It would be a grand idea as fast as funds 

 permit to add other varieties of standard fruits to the special list. 



As yet we do not believe the perfect apple has been found. 

 There a-e many Maine seedlings of merit of which little is known, 

 and if the collection of apples (thos' not named in our list) does 

 not bring them out for exhibition the Society should take further 

 measures to secure this most desirable result There are several 

 seedlings of Maine origin that have great merit. Among them are 

 the Rolfe. Wealthy (grown from Maine seed). King Sweet, and 

 others we might enumerate. Careful examination of our seedlings 

 may give us an apple of the shipping qualities of tlie Ben Davis 



