STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33 



fruit growing sections of the country store houses of a similar 

 kind are provided for neighborhood privileges. These advan- 

 tages are all within the reach of any individual fruit grower, or 

 a neighborhood of growers, and would be found of great advan- 

 tage to the industry. 



But further than home storage and local storage there should 

 be cold storage warehouses provided at shipping points. To such 

 extent has this matter of making temperature, if I may be allowed 

 such an expression, been perfected that the cost of such storage 

 is not now heavy and is entirely within the advantages gained 

 by it. The sooner Maine fruit growers get on to the advantages 

 of cold storage in some form the more will they be in control of 

 their business and the greater the profits they will realize out of it. 



The Washington Department of Agriculture is engaged in 

 experimental cold storage of fruits, and while up to the present 

 time reports of its work are nothing more than reports of prog- 

 ress, yet without doubt we shall soon be furnished with informa- 

 tion of great value on this important matter. The department 

 is also engaged in conducting experimental shipment storage 

 abroad, which it is hoped may lead to improved storage of fruit 

 in our export trade. Certainly it is gratifying to know that the 

 general government is looking after the interests of the fruit 

 growers. 



Attention is called to these matters that our fruit growers may 

 be gradually growing up to the idea that the caring for and 

 marketing of fruit after it is grown is a part of the business quite 

 as important to the grower as the production itself. 



In closing, I wash in behalf of this society to acknowledge the 

 efforts being put forth by our state agricultural department in 

 behalf of our fruit producing interests. The commissioner at its 

 head is bringing into the state in his institute work authorities 

 trained by experience in fruit growing, thereby adding much to 

 the work our society has in hand. We welcome all aid to the 

 fruit growing interests of the State. 



