52 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Pope. There is great confusion in the nomenclature of our 

 apples. This is sometimes amusing and sometimes annoying. 

 For example the Gravenstein is often confused with the Duchess 

 of Oldenburg, and the name of ''Mann Apple" is given to numerous 

 varieties. It would be a help if the Society could do more to cor- 

 rect the names now wrongly given to many fruits in the State. 



Prof. MuNSON. There are good seedlings in Maine, and we ought 

 to encourage the growth and originating of new varieties. In this 

 way our fruit is improved. Who knows what the future may bring 

 forth in this direction ? 



Mr. Briggs. The number of varieties is now so large that some 

 extensive growers of fruit are deterred from making collective 

 exhibitions. Twenty varieties — the minimum number — may be 

 too large, and I am not sure but we would have more exhibitions 

 if the number of varieties should be limited from fifteen to thirty, 

 instead of twenty to forty. 



Mr. Pope. I doubt whether it would be practicable to make out 

 a list of twenty or m^re varieties, and require the collective exhibits 

 to be composed of these varieties. The difficulty is to make a list 

 that would be adapted to all parts of the State. 



Mr. GiLDERT. It has always been the custom of the Society to 

 admit all varieties, thus affording a complete display of good and 

 bad alike In this way we are able to learn what to preserve and 

 what to discard. It should be remembered that the old varieties 

 are still the best and it will be a long while before we have any- 

 thing better. It is a vicious practice we are getting of viewmg 

 apples solely with reference to their shipping qualities. There must 

 be some other qualities as well as these. Let us give prominence 

 to their qualities. 



Mr. Pope. The Society has followed the practice of limiting the 

 premiums so far as possible to the best varieties, and from time to 

 time the premium list has been amended with this in view. Inferior 

 varieties have been struck out and more desirable ones substituted 

 in their place. 



Mr. McKeln. I am very glad this matter of the study of the 

 natural sciences in our common schools has come up here. I have 

 been very much interested in the remarks of Mr. Knowlton and I 

 most certainly wish to endorse and emphasize them. I have for a 



