STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 2ft 



ANNUAL ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, 



Charles S. Pope. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : — Once more it becomes my duty to address 

 3'ou on a subject in which we are all deepl}- interested. From the 

 repoits of the Secretary- and Treasurer you have learned of the 

 financial condition of the Society. While we are somewhat in debt, 

 we have been able the past year to keep our expenses within our 

 receipts, and we hope the time will soon come when our people will 

 realize the growing importance of the fruit business in Maine and 

 be readv to aid us in repaying our loans and in building up a live 

 societ\'. 



Fruit growing in Maine is only in its infancv. ATe expect in a few 

 3'ears to see more apples shipped from Portland than from any other 

 port in the countr}-, and our markets and summer hotels furnished 

 with small fruits from Maine gardens. 



Where can the beginner get information better than by joining this 

 Society' and attending its meetings, where he may learn from the 

 successes and failures of practical men. 



If our fruit growers would mingle together more, there would be 

 less mone\' wasted in the purchase of varieties not adapted to this 

 section, and in paying the tree peddler more per dozen for plants and 

 trees than they would cost by the luindred at the nursery. 



One is apt to become rusty hy keeping too closely at home, and 

 perhaps a little narrow and bigoted. AVe remember some years ago, 

 seeing a man driving pine plugs in the holes where the apple tree 

 borer left the tree, thinking to smother him, and we have seen 

 several people latel}' who are satisfied that the disease called "sun 

 scald" is caused by the flat-headed borer, and that apples must be 

 allowed to "sweat" before they are in condition to pack away. 

 Twentj- years ago we thought we knew the whole storj'. AVe now 

 realize how much there is to learn and the great advantage to be 

 gained by contact with wide-awake men. 



This is a suitable time to review the work of our fall exhibition 

 and see where we can change and improve our methods, and any 

 suggestions from interested parties would, no doubt, be gratefully 

 received b^' the executive committee. The arrangement to hold our 

 exhibition in connection with the State Agricultural Society seems 



