STATE PwMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 47 



ing this hastily written sketch the writer wishes to call attention to 

 the character of the early work done by the Society. It was above 

 all a work of love for fruit growing, of devotion and loyal iy to the 

 State. By fruit growers it had been determined that conditions in 

 Maine were favorable for profitable fiuit culture. The first o-ieat 

 work was to spread this knowledge before the people. The medi- 

 ums were well chosen, for at the exhibitions of fruit all could see 

 the real proiuct itself in the most attractive form, and real object 

 lessons the exhibitions have proved, bearing indisputable evidence 

 of the great importance of the fruit industry to the State. The 

 other medium was the public meeting for teaching the hoic of profit- 

 able fruit culture. The papers and discussions at these meetings 

 were reported in the pre^s and published in the Transactions of the 

 Society, and thousands have studied the theory and science of fruit 

 culture from them. To do thi> great work there was enthusiasm 

 enough, but the funds were always short, and even to the present 

 time the only comp?n a' ion paid to the officers has been a meagre 

 sala-y to the secretary. The time has been cheerfully given, and 

 the Society has only paid the actual travelling expenses. Nor does 

 this tell all the story, for often the early members when the Society 

 was struggl ng to pa}^ its bills rather than contract a debt, contrib- 

 uted from their own pockets. They preferred this to having their 

 Society burdened in its youth with a debt. The extent of this aid 

 we shall never know, as there is no complete record of the aid they 

 gave. Rarely in the history of organizations are there such 

 instances of loyalty to the cause. 



The extension of fruit culture has been the chief object of the 

 Society. First, it is and has been one o( the cardinal principles of 

 the Society tha: everj' family that controls an acre of land or even 

 a garden spot should produce an abundance of fruit for home use ; 

 and second, that as a profitable industry none in the State paj's 

 better. That fruit growing in the State has now become so general 

 is a most gratifying result, but the end is not yet, for there is now 

 constant demand for more knowledge of fruits, how to raise them, 

 how to sell them, and last but by no means least, how to use them 

 to increase the health and happiness of our people. 



The Pomological Society has ever been true to the principles on 

 which it was organized and has steadily labored to promote the 

 industry of fruit growing iu_the State. It has no rivals, but has 

 found friends among kindred societies in the State. *This is espe- 



