STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 2$ 



3d. Education is demanded as to what constitutes a good 

 tree for setting, that buyers may discriminate and refuse to 

 accept inferior stock, whether in size, shape, top or root. 



4th. The very apparent lack of uniformity in methods of 

 pruning both root and top before setting, suggests a possible 

 series of public demonstrations of immense value, while the 

 necessity for instruction in trimming young trees to insure 

 shape of top desired is forced home upon every thinking or- 

 chardist, and must claim public attention. 



These self-evident facts make obligator}' extended vvork 

 along educational lines, — work too long neglected and which 

 can best be reached through a well directed campaign for 

 improvement by this organized and state supported society. 



The increase of insect pests preying upon tree and fruit, 

 and of diseases threatening serious trouble, will necessitate 

 more stringent measures for protection and more complete 

 supervision by the State as well as far more thorough work by 

 orchardists. The man who does not spray becomes a menace 

 to all the neighborhood, and protection of the industry is para- 

 mount to individual fancies or practices. Maine orchardists 

 received last year very close to four million dollars for tl"='i'' 

 fruit, prices ruling abnormally high, yet because of rigidity of 

 laws and practices covering grading, packing and branding in 

 the far West, the growers there realized for the same amount 

 practically twice as much. 



The question of quality does not enter here to our injury, 

 for the eastern apple is in every way superior when properly 

 grown and graded. This tremendous loss, resulting from ba.i 

 methods and lack of supervision, is our greatest drawback, 

 yet all amendments to our fruit packing law, tending to insure 

 a clean pack, true grade and honest brand, and to increase 

 value and price of the Maine product, were defeated in the 

 last legislature through the influence of a few orchardists. 



In the second congressional district there are almost one 

 hundred orchards of more than one thousand trees each, while 

 in the third one could easily find as many more, with still 

 others in York, Cumberland, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Han- 

 cock counties. In addition, are numberless smaller orchards on 

 every hillside. This output of fruit must be radically increased 

 as the one hundred thousand trees set in 1910, and as many 



