STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 93 



Discussing the industry from the standard of the greatest pos- 

 sible value to the State, individual liberty becomes subservient to 

 the best interests of the general public. By no course of logic 

 can a man be sustained in neglecting the protection of his fruit 

 trees upon the ground of individual ownership, when such neg- 

 lect spreads devastation and loss over the orchards of others. 

 If the State is justified in spending money for the destruction of 

 the brown-tail or gypsy moth, why not for the prevention of the 

 codling moth, tent caterpillar, and other insects which bring hun- 

 dreds of thousands of dollars loss to our fruit interests yearly. 

 It is this inferior fruit, resulting from neglect of trees and spray- 

 ing, which loads -the market and cuts out so large a per cent of 

 the profits in orcharding. An industry worth two to four mil- 

 lions yearly to the State, surely merits recognition and protec- 

 tion by the State against the fast multiplying pests and diseases. 

 No market, however active it may be, is of any value unless 

 growers and manufacturers are able to supply its demands, and 

 when we discuss this subject it is with the expectation that we 

 may contribute to the supply called for. For this to'^be possible 

 the preservation of the fruit trees becomes of supreme impor- 

 tance. Today there are enemies threatening the State beyond 

 any we have ever met and they cannot be controlled by individual 

 effort alone simply because some will not, and others care not, 

 to protect their property, 'l he State must appropriate the means 

 and direct the agencies necessary to insure freedom from these 

 pests. The brown-tail moth is already established in several 

 localities and the dreaded gypsy moth will soon be in Maine. 

 The wonder is that it has not reached the State before this time. 

 Whatever is done must be at the earliest possible moment 

 and every fruit grower should be enlisted to ask of the incoming 

 legislature such legislation as will in time free from one of these 

 pests and protect from the other. It is not only folly but vex- 

 ation of spirit to call attention to, or discuss a condition so grave 

 as this unless there follows immediately a well organized move- 

 ment for such legislation as will secure the freedom so necessary 

 and so much desired. Every fruit grower should be prompt to 

 acknowledge his obligations to tne Governor and Council, as well 

 as the Commissioner of Agriculture, for the immediate action 

 last sprmg, taken without legislation but with a full conscious- 



