Il34: STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON FRUIT CULTURE IN 



MAINE. 

 By D. J. Briggs, South Turner. 



First, is it profitable to cultivate fruit ? Yes, it promotes the health 

 of man or beasts to partake of fruit in more or less quantities during 

 the entire year. Apples take the most prominent part in fruit grow- 

 ing in Maine although almost all farmers can propagate in this State 

 other species of fruit, such as pears, plums, grapes, cherries, straw- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries, &c. If any one has more than is 

 needed for home use it will most always sell in our large towns and 

 Tillages for a remunerative price. Apples are quite extensively 

 •exported at the present time and it is considered a good paying 

 industry both for the grower and the shipper. I believe it pays as 

 well or better than any other farming ; and right here, would it not 

 be well for this society to select a committee or otherwise to present 

 a petition before our agricultural committee at the next legislature 

 assembling for an increase of stipend ; say ($500) five hundred dol- 

 Hars in addition to what we now receive? That would make one 

 tthousand dollars ; that is a small outlay for the interest of fruit cul- 

 fture in proportion to legislative appropriatiops in many other States. 

 Fruit farming is almost second in production financially in compari- 

 son with other farm products of this State. Sec. Gilbert's report 

 on State stipend to the agricultural societies gives the three States, 

 and thirty-six local societies a little short of eight thousand dollars. 

 If equally divided it would amount to about two hundred dollars. 

 The thirty- six local societies as reported receive nearly one hundred 

 and fifty dollars each, if equally divided. The fruit growers of 

 Maine should receive encouragement in proportion to other indus- 

 tries of the country. 



I think it would be advantageous for the fruit growers of Maine 

 to hold more than one meeting each year for comparing notes and 

 the discussion of subjects pertaining to the best interests of fruit 

 rgrowing in Maine. We should post ourselves as far as possible in 

 regard to the kinds of soil that different varieties of fruit are to be 

 planted in. When we learn that, it will not be so hard to decide what 

 varieties to order. Orchardists have planted in former years more 

 varieties, or in part, than was for their interest financially, although 

 It has given them a lesson of experience, so in the future they maj^ 

 -select a few of th« best thriving varieties in their particular locality. 



