38 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



there is little doubt. The fruit, in its wild state is far superior 

 to that of many other cultivated plants and is very susceptible 

 to the influence of environment. So I feel perfectly safe in pre- 

 dicting that within a very few years, a race of garden blueberries, 

 rivaling in value some of the best of the other small fruits, will 

 be placed before the public and the culture of the blueberry will 

 be as much a matter of course as is that of the blackberry or the 

 raspberry. 



CRANBERRIES. 



From time to time in the past, the cranberry has been called 

 to the attention of the fruit growers of the State, but this fruit 

 does not yet receive the attention its importance demands. The 

 subject was treated so thoroughly by Prof. Harve}^ at the meet- 

 ing of this society in 1896, and the practical details of culture 

 were so well brought out at the last meeting in Augusta (1892), 

 that I shall but refer you to the transactions of the society for 

 those years. 



CHESTNUTS. 



In various parts of the State are rocky, sandy ridges which 

 are of- no particular value for general agricultural purposes, but 

 which are specially suited for the growth of the chestnut tree. 

 Since the common American chestnut is perfectly hardy in 

 Maine, there is every reason why the many bushels of nuts that 

 are used each year should be produced at home; thus adding to 

 the wealth of the farmers, utilizing waste places, and, in many 

 cases, hiding deformities in the landscape. Similar remarks will 

 apply to the hickory nut and to the butternut. 



FILBERTS. 



The common hazelnut grows freely in many parts of our 

 State, and we all remember the delights of childhood in romping 

 through the fields in search of the brown prizes contained within 

 the ample husks. Closely related to this nut is the English fil- 

 bert, and I would call the attention of the society to these two 

 nuts as affording a promising line of investigation. 



