REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 199 



There were 124 classes open for competition in fruits for the 

 year 1907 and of these 102 were competed for. There were appro- 

 priated for prizes on fruits for 1907 $1039.00 and $100.00 additional 

 for special prizes at the Chrysanthemum Show; of this $717.00 

 was awarded on the regular schedule and $100.00 on the special 

 prizes, making a total of $1139 appropriated and $817 awarded; 

 and leaving a balance of $322.00. 



This balance is a good deal larger than it would have been had 

 we had a normal year. Two votes of thanks, three gratuities, and 

 one silver-gilt medal were awarded by the committee. 



The chairman of the Committee on Fruits has during the past 

 year visited the horticultural societies of Vermont, New Hampshire, 

 Connecticut, and INIaine, at their annual meetings and exhibitions; 

 to Maine as a delegate from this society. In all these states he 

 has found a very progressive spirit in evidence with regard to the 

 future of New England fiaiit growing. The prevailing opinion at 

 all these meetings seemed to be that the apple was the most profit- 

 able fruit for New England when the best modern methods were 

 applied to its cultivation and marketing. The question of a national 

 fruit marks act was discussed at Maine and Vermont; both sides 

 of the question were presented and it seemed to those who discussed 

 it that if we are to stand with the rest of the country in the foreign 

 markets we shall have to have some legal standard to grade our 

 fruit by. The fruit shown at these various exhibitions was as a rule 



