STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5 



THE SOCIETY AND THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



For various reasons which we are assured are from no ill feel- 

 ing towards our society or its work, the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture at its x\nnual meeting in January, 1896, after a prolonged 

 discussion of the subject voted to discontinue the aid they have 

 hitherto granted our society towards the expenses of our winter 

 meeting. 



As the present of^cers had no voice in originating the joint 

 meetings and were not consulted regarding its discontinuance 

 there seems to be no occasion for any comment beyond a state- 

 ment of the facts. 



Pooling funds for this meeting has secured the employment 

 of distinguished speakers from a distance, at a time when under 

 other circumstances it would have been impossible. So far as 

 the Secretary is informed there has been only the most cordial 

 feeling between the two organizations. Both are working 

 along similar lines and now that the union has been severed, 

 each ought to be the stronger for the independence. The Sec- 

 retary has great confidence in the fruit-growers of the State. 

 whose intelligence and enterprise will not permit a cause they 

 have so long nourished to languish for want of means. The 

 liberal aid now granted to us from the State will enable us to 

 go on in our work, and depending upon our own resources will 

 add to our strength. 



OUR EXHIBITIONS. 



By invitation of Hon. F. O. Beal, President of the Eastern 

 Maine State Fair, negotiations were entered into for holding 

 an exhibition with them. The executive oiificers, thinking the 

 holding of such an exhibition would enable the society to exert 

 a wider influence in the eastern part of the State, and all objec- 

 tions being overcome, the terms were agreed upon, being the 

 same as between our society and the Maine State Agricultural 

 Society, and $100 additional to meet the expenses of the ofiticers 

 of the society. The exhibition there was held August 25-28, 

 1896. We met many fruit and flower growers whom we found 

 enthusiastic, and fond of their pursuits. At this exhibition 

 there were fiftv-eie:ht exhibitors. \\'e were treated with the 



