STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. ^i 



Has the Society finished her work, and is there no further need for 

 organized effort ? It seems to me that we are just beginning, and 

 need now, more than ever, these meetings, to discuss the result of our 

 hxbors, and learn from the success or faihire of others. Especially 

 do we need them for mutual encouragement, when, as at present, 

 every one is complaining of ''hard times," that our courage may be 

 renewed by the enthusiasm of the more hopeful, and our confidence 

 strengthened by the success of their ventures. 



There is much to be done in the matter of nomenclature. Thou- 

 sands of dollars are wasted every year in putting out spurious, and 

 even utterly worthless varieties of fruit, through the misrepresenta- 

 tions of agents, the mistakes of nurserymen, and the ignorance of 

 varieties among the planters themselves. The exhibitions of this 

 Society have done much to correct this last trouble, and I believe 

 we should do more to expose the wiles of the dishonest tree peddler 



that enemy of the fruit grower — who does not, like the borer and 



codling moth, lie dormant during the reign of frost and snow. It 

 is so easy to be persuaded by .the glowing descriptions, and still 

 more glowing colored plates with which the smooth tongued fra- 

 ternity are provided, that the honest, unsuspecting farmer needs 

 frequently to be reminded that a man of practical experience in 

 orcharding is a much safer guide as to varieties, best in themselves 

 and best suited to his location and requirements, than is the wily 

 agent who makes his largest profits on new and untried varieties, 

 and whose interest it therefore is to recommend them, in preference 

 to the old and reliable standards. 



A matter of great importance to the fruit grower of the present 

 day, is the better care of his orchard. Trees are allowed to strug- 

 gle for existence, which, enriched, and with a little extra care, would 

 pay a huge per cent on the investment. With such attention and 

 thoroughness in cultivation, we secure larger, finer fruit, which will 

 meet with a ready sale, at remunerative prices, even in a year of 

 plenty, when inferior fruit will hardly pay the expense of picking 

 and marketing. 



We need a reform in the matter of sorting and packing our fruit 

 for market, that shall give us such a reputation as to enable us to 

 command better prices. This is especially desirable in a year like 

 this, when our apples are nearly all sent to foreign markets. Too 

 frequently the orehardist, in his greed for present gain, forgets that 

 his reputation is at stake, and allows his apples to grade from No. 1, 



