28 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



been gathered from the harvest fields, but rather that we may 

 come together and investigate the sources, the causes, the con- 

 ditions, and be helped to better appreciation of the next step 

 which always lies just in front of us. And you who are citizens 

 and are not, perhaps, directly interested save as consumers, are 

 equally interested with us in the carrying forward of this great 

 industry, an industry which today is worth to the State of Maine 

 from one to two million dollars, and which may be in the next 

 few years greatly increased as we come to a better knowledge of 

 the exacting conditions which are confronting us. 



And so accept from us our recognition of your kind words of 

 welcome and join with us in the work of the next two days. 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 By Z. A. Gilbert, President of State Pomological Society. 



The round of another year brings us to our annual exhibition 

 and convention, and with it comes the duty to your president 

 of formally opening the meeting with such suggestions bearing 

 on the industry we have taken upon ourselves to promote as may 

 be deemed of special importance at this time. 



For three years in succession the fruit growers of our State 

 have been favored with bountiful crops from their orchards, the 

 two last of which never having been exceeded in quantity in the 

 history of fruit growing among us. Successive years of bounty 

 are so rare that the fact is worthy of record in our proceedings. 

 In fact such has been the quantity of fruit offered on the market 

 that some have raised the question whether the business has not 

 already reached the limit of demand. A careful survey of 

 market demand, however, through any considerable period of 

 time, will, we are quite certain, dispel all fears in that direction. 

 The present year will complete the measure of fifty years of my 

 own personal financial interest in commercial fruit growing. 

 In that time the changes have been great, but in no direction 

 more marked than in the increase of the quantity of fruit ofifered 

 on the market. Yet the price of fruit will average for a decade 

 as his^h now as for anv ten vears of the half centurv. There 



