46 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



became one of the most efficient secretaries the Board ever had, 

 acting in that capacity until the winter of 1892. He has been a 

 firm friend of the Society, and in his official capacity as secretary 

 of the Board, in many ways reudered valuable assistance to the 

 Society and largely increased its usefulness as one of the organized 

 industries of the State. 



Of those who have been identified with the Society's work, none, 

 have done more or displayed greater fitness and ability than its 

 first secretary, George B. Sawyer, Esq , of Wiscasset. The trans- 

 actions of the Society during his official term are edited in the most 

 scholai'ly manner These volumes show how carefully he gathered 

 facts bearing upon the industry of fruit culture in Maine. In 

 carrying out the purposes for which the Society was organized, he 

 unde took many tasks hat involved great labor and many sacri- 

 fices. The fruit growers of Maine OA^e him a debt of gratitude, 

 which we fear this generation may never be able to recompense, 

 but the transactions of the Society will bear witness to succeeding 

 generations of the excellence of the service he rendered. 



The Honorable Henry Ingalls of Wiscasset was at one time 

 president of the Society, and though in recent years he has not 

 been permitted to meet with us, he has in many ways activelj' 

 encouraged the cause. He is a member of the Horticultural Com- 

 mittee of the "World's Fair Managers, and has actively aided us in 

 bringing before the Board the importance of the fruit industry in 

 the State. 



For several years the Hon. Robert H. Gardiner of Gardiner was 

 president of the Society. He was an active member and an exhib- 

 itor of some of the finest fruit grown in the State. In September, 

 1886, having arranged to exhibit his fruit at the fair as usual, but 

 before his fruit was in place, the messenger of death had sealed his 

 lips. A beautiful floral tribute, in the midst of his fruit, with 

 emblems of mourning told the visitors of his death while his remains 

 were being borne to their last resting place. At the winter meeting 

 following, the Hon. Samuel L. Boardman, who was then the efli- 

 cient secretar}' of the Society, read a finely written memorial 

 sketch, — a graceful and beautiful tribute from a personal friend. 

 This sketch was published in the Societ^^'s Transactions for that 

 year. 



There are others whose names are deserving of special mention 

 in this connection, but space and time will not permit ; but in clos- 



