STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 3 1 



factor of value, and better storage while the fruit is in the 

 grower's hands. 



It is in years of plenty, like the present, that the money value 

 of quality is made specially prominent. The color craze is still 

 on and I do not question but color will continue to have a meas- 

 ure of money value, but it is in connection with high quality that 

 color finds its, superiority. There never was a year when fruit 

 the best in quality was more in demand in the market than the 

 present season, and the popular color has given it added value. 

 Note the premium prices at all times during the season paid for 

 the Gravensteins, Mcintosh Reds, Snows and Kings. Here is a 

 fact this society may well continue to hold up to the view of fruit 

 growers. 



Many growers have this autumn substantially given good 

 keeping winter fruit away, or disposed of it without reasonable 

 compensation for time involved in its handling, for want of 

 storage room. The industry is decidedly weak on this point. 

 Under present conditions of trade any considerable part of our 

 winter fruit cannot be sold at anything like what it should be 

 Avorth till consumption has made room for it. Growers must 

 get out of the position where they are obliged to dispose of their 

 fruit directly from the orchard. It hurts not only themselves 

 but damages the industry at large. Our society can do no better 

 than to dwell on this feature till conditions are changed for the 

 better. 



It will be recalled that at our annual meeting a year ago, the 

 matter of making an exhibition of our Maine fruit at the St. 

 Louis Exposition was before us. The officers of the society had 

 made application to the State commission to have a portion of 

 the forty thousand dollars appropriated by the legislature set 

 apart for such a purpose. The request, together with the 

 society, was entirely ignored in the matter. Later the news- 

 papers of the State reported that some apples were bought for 

 the purpose of exhibition and would be forwarded to St. Louis 

 for that purpose. I have watched out through the season in the 

 public press and no mention of a Maine table of fruit or a Maine 

 apple having been seen has been found. Other states placed 

 liberal sums of money in the hands of their horticultural socie- 

 ties for the purpose and fine displays have been reported. The 



