STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33 



desire to mention, in particular, the grave clanger that is witti 

 us in the last and greatest invasion of the brown-tail moth we 

 have ever had, and that we urge upon our commissioner of 

 agriculture the great necessity of a vigorous enforcement of the 

 law regarding the removal of the winter nests. 



A very large per cent of the fruit raised in our state is ex- 

 ported to Europe by way of Liverpool, and I desire to call the 

 attention of the members again to the steady increase in freight 

 rates to that port. In the last five years that increase has 

 amounted to thirty per cent, and to some other foreign ports 

 the increase has been greater. It is fair to presume from the 

 past, that the industry will be burdened to the limit, unless such 

 societies as ours take some concentrated action to protect theni- 

 selves. 



Let us also urge upon our fellow fruit growers in Massachu- 

 setts the importance of some action on their part, urging legis- 

 lation similar to the New York State Commission Bill, provid- 

 ing for the licensing and governing of the business of the com- 

 mission men. This law enacted by the last legislature of 

 New York cannot help being of great benefit to producer and 

 consumer, and it is legislation to which surely no honest com- 

 mission man can take exception. 



I want to congratulate the society upon the greater recog- 

 nition it received from the state during the meeting of our la^i, 

 legislature, giving it an opportunity to widen its scope and in- 

 crease its field of activities. Also, that after a struggle of four 

 years to correct the evils of our lack of uniform pack, the legis- 

 lature passed a law giving every grower a right to ship any 

 quality of apple grown, but making it a misdemeanor unless 

 stenciled true to name ; a hardship on no grower, only a de- 

 mand that if he use the word "Maine," he must be honest. 

 This law will be enforced by our present commissioner in an 

 able, honest and efficient manner, and cannot help being ol 

 great benefit to the fruit industry. It is to be hoped that our 

 members will be more than careful of their personal pack, and 

 report any known violation of the law to the inspector, prompt- 

 ly. In years of plenty, Maine apples will be in demand if our 

 stencil is known to be true. 



"In union there is strength." We want every man and 

 woman who is interested in orcharding in Maine as a member 

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