Proceedinojs of tlie Winter Meetinff. 



The annual Winter Meeting of the Maine State Pomological 

 Soeiet_y was held at Gardiner, in the new Library Hall, on the 24th 

 and 2oth days of P^ebruary, 1885. Two sessions were held on the 

 first day (afternoon and evening), the forenoon having been spent 

 in arranging the exhibition of fruit ; and three sessions on the 

 second day. 



The exhibition was satisfactory in respect to the number of en- 

 tries and of varieties exhibited, and especiall}' gratifAing on account 

 of the uniform excellence of the specimens. Further particulars in 

 regard to it will be found in the rej^ort of the committee at a later 

 stage of the proceedings. 



FIRST DAY— Afternoon Session. 



The Society met at two o'clock in the afternoon, and was called 

 to order b}- the President. O. B. Clason, P^sq., of Gardiner, in a 

 brief address, welcomed the Societ3' to the cit^y, and was replied to 

 in behalf of the Society by the Secretary, and the President de- 

 livered his annual address. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 

 By O. B. Clason, Esq., of Gardiner. 



Mr. President, and Members of the Maine State Pomological 

 Society : — The absence of our Mayor from the State affords me the 

 pleasure of welcoming you to this citv, named in honor of the father 

 of one of the recent presidents of this Societ}'. Several of your 

 most active members are among our prominent citizens, and the 

 fact that t\\Qy are so closeh* identified with this exhibition here to-da}- 

 is a sufficient guaranty of the usefulness and practicability of this 

 Society in advancing the fruit-growing interests of our State. The 

 soil of the Kennebec valley is fertile and well adapted to fruit cul- 

 ture ; yet, ride in anj- direction from this city but a few miles and 

 you will find instances of orchards allowed to go to decay, with 



