STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 27 



deed in thought itself, the people of Cumberland county have ever 

 striven to keep well abreast the spirit of the times. Her agriculture 

 has always been diversified in its nature, and among these diversi- 

 ties the orchard was early cultivated ; if not for its market fruit, 

 perhaps for the good cheer that was sure to flow from the cider mug 

 which b}' the blazing fire, graced many a chimney corner in the jolly 

 old days of 3'ore. 



Now that steam has annihilated distance so that the ocean itself 

 forms no barrier in seeking a market, the growing of fruit in many 

 localities has come well to the front as one of the leading agricul- 

 tural industries. 



The pioneers of this town were not all of that class of whom it 

 has been written, 



''The average farmer we have oft' been told 

 Was not a fruit grower hi the days of old, 

 And if by chance a fruit should be found 

 So venturesome to occupy his ground, 

 'Twas there by accident not by design 

 And yielded fruit fit only for the swine." 



Instead, early in the development of our farming industry an 

 orchard, though of natural fruit, was considered a necessary adjunct 

 to nearly every farm. 



While in summer some of our hills and plains are covered with 

 the beautiful green of the forest, well nigh primeval, to be changed 

 in time to the glories of autumnal tints, and our valleys are cheered 

 with waving fields of grass and grain, waiting for the coming of the 

 even clipping scythe ; yet many a hillside is covered with blooming 

 orchards, a good earnest of a rich autumnal fruitage, not of the 

 kinds familiar to the fathers in the days of their youth, but of vari- 

 eties the most approved ; an indication of some of the progress 

 which fruit culture has made. In this communit}', in any community 

 where the fruit of the orchard has become a source of material profit, 

 the planting and growing of trees to a healthy maturity, the warding 

 off of insects ever increasing in numbers and kinds, the harvesting, 

 storing, packing and marketing of fruit, climatic conditions, adapta- 

 bility of soils to different varieties, cannot fail to be subjects of deep 

 and abiding interest ; for a thorough understanding of the underly- 

 ing principles applicable to fruit growing is essential to the highest 

 success. 



Though the apple holds so prominent a place in our consideration, 

 we would not ignore the necessity of more light in regard to the 



