STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. " 99 



JELLY MAKING. 



By Alanson S. Grant, Lewiston. 



It is not without some misgivings that I shall attempt to 

 speak to you this evening upon what is to me a most interesting 

 and important subject, and I think I may add that it is a m'ost 

 interesting and attractive subject to any one who may have 

 become closely acquainted with it.- Our State has always been 

 noted for the variety, the high standard and the great com- 

 mercial value of its apple product. It has also, always been a 

 source of great pride to our citizens, but while it has been a 

 source of financial benefit to a great extent, it seems to me that 

 one phase of its commercial value has wholly or to a great 

 extent been overlooked and ignored. 



Very few people are aware of the great value of apples for 

 the purposes of jelly making; and strange to say this is more 

 especially true of those who are themselves large growers of 

 apples. It has always been the custom to prepare during the 

 summer and fall a supply of canned fruits, preserves and jellies 

 to have during the winter as delicacies, when we are deprived 

 of the luxuries which we are accustomed to during the summer. 

 The jellies which we are accustomed to see on our tables are 

 those made from the different berries which we raise and from 

 the fruits of other states, but the apple is more conspicuous by 

 its absence. 



The greatest factor that has brought out the jelly making 

 qualities of our apples is our Maine State Pomological Society, 

 which has so generously offered, from year to year, liberal pre- 

 miums for the best display of apple jellies made from distinct 

 and named varieties of apples. It has aroused an interest 

 throughout the whole State in the subject and excited inquiries 

 which have reached great practical value, so much so, in fact, 

 that at our last meeting at the State Fair in September, the 

 exhibition of apple jellies was so extensive and of such a high 

 standard, tliat it was a source of pride to the officers of the 

 society, and of great interest to the visitors at the exhibition 

 building. Among the great number and variety of apples of 



