58 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



of tlie industry in Xew England, that the apple trees grow ^hem- 

 selves. How far that may be true, I leave it for you to deter- 

 mine. That it is true to a larger extent than it should be. is a 

 fact we all recognize. 



Here is an industry worth to the State of Maine yearly from 

 $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. Does that mark the limit? What is 

 it possible for us to do to increase, first of all, the quality of 

 our fruit? That is the question. This, it seems to me, is the 

 problem which confronts us every one. We know that our soil 

 and climate are peculiarly adapted to the growing of the finest 

 quality of fruit grown in all the country. A grower from Seat- 

 tle said to me. during the late Fruit Show: "We acknowledge 

 the superiority of eastern fruit, and of your New England ap- 

 ples," and then went on to make the claim, of course, that they 

 had us beaten all out in the markets, and could get a price which 

 we couldn't even hope to obtain, simply through their system of 

 packing. 



How far is this necessary? !\Iust we accept the situation 

 and admit that while we can grow a superior quality, there are 

 conditions which we cannot control, and that those conditions are 

 a barrier to our progress in the work of today? I don't believe 

 it. So the first cry that comes to me from the orchard is that 

 there be no further increase in trees until we have provided the 

 ways and means by which those now growing be given the 

 opportunity to do their best. It seems to me that here is the 

 first thing for us to do — put ourselves into the study of this 

 question as it confronts us today with reference to the market 

 demands of the day and the conditions which meet us in the mar- 

 kets now. All these things coming to us from different stand- 

 points than they did formerly, force us to consider the ques- 

 tion differently from what we did five or ten years ago, and 

 therefore I think make it necessary that we first of all should 

 see what can be done with the trees we now have living and 

 growing upon the farms and in the orchards of the state. When 

 we have so studied the question that we appreciate the situa- 

 tion and feel certain that we are giving those trees the best 

 chance possible to perfect themselves and develop the fruit which 

 we desire, then we can begin to discuss the question of extensive 

 work in orcharding upon a larger scale than has yet been 

 attempted. For it is a fact, given by those who claim to know, 



