STATE P^MOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 73 



be fenced so that the cattle will not destroy the small growth. I 

 have observed Arbor Day for ten years, one fixed by myself. The 

 first was some ten years ago ; I sent two men into the woods to take 

 up some evergreen trees. Thej^ took up pine and cedar. As you 

 all know, we live in a cold country, and I thought it would be a nice 

 plan to set evergreen trees north of my buildings. I set those pine 

 and cedar alternately, and they are growing and doing nicely and 

 we are experiencing a great advantage in that direction. It does 

 break the cold winds that blow over the hills and through the valleys ; 

 when they strike our buildings they are a good deal mitigated by 

 these trees. I believe it would be advantageous for us fruit growers 

 and orchardists to set different varieties of trees. We cannot ob- 

 serve exactly one da}^ every year. For instance, if we want to set 

 certain varieties of plum, cherry, apple or pear trees, they do not 

 come into the right condition at the same time and we could not do 

 that on a fixed day, unless we do as Mr. Atherton has suggested, 

 take them up beforehand and wait for the day to come. 



Mr. Merrill. As the gentleman has had experience in trans- 

 planting evergreens I would like to ask him what month is best for 

 that? 



Mr. Briggs. I would take up evergreens the last of May usually. 

 1 have set some several times, and those that were taken up earlier 

 in the season did not flourish as well as those taken up later. 



Mr. Merrill. We have tried four months, sometimes the latter 

 part of April and May, June and July, to transplant evergreens and 

 I think the most successful time has been the latter part of June or 

 first of July. 



On motion of Mr. Knowlton it was voted, That in the opinion of 

 this joint meeting of the State Pomological Society, and the State 

 Board of Agriculture, the date of Arbor Day should not be later 

 than May 1st. 



Mr. Augur. May I make a single point in regard to what has 

 already been said, on Arbor Day, etc. ? I have enjoyed these papers 

 this afternoon exceedingly. It seems to me they are of a very high 

 order. I think you ought to be congratulated upon having papers 

 of such a character. And now, in connection with that, I would like 

 to bring home one or two points and make an appeal to you. Before 

 me I see gentlemen whose locks are whitened by the snows of many 

 winters. At the same time I see some boys that look destined to 

 make good citizens of Maine. Some of the most valuable of the 



