STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 15 



The Maine Pomological and Horticultural Society, 

 Organized in 184Y, and chartered in 1854, exerted for a time a 

 direct and powerful influence upon the business of fruit culture in 

 the State. Among its members, or contributors to its exhibitions, 

 were many of the men whose names are recognized as among the 

 most successful fruit growers of the present day, and many equally 

 well known who have deceased.* In 1855 it made at Gardiner, 

 a most euccessful and varied exhibition of fruits. It is doubtful if 

 a better show of apples and pears has since been made in the 

 State, or could be at the present day. (Of grapes, many new and 

 better varieties, native and hybrid, have been introduced since that 

 time, and of foreign grapes, although there were then many cold 

 graperies in the State, it is said none were exhibited.) 



That society many years ago ceased to exist, and its records 

 have been lost. Its career was brief but brilliant. From what 

 can be learned of itg proceedings and labors, from the earlier Agri- 

 cultural Reports and from tradition, it seems to have started on 

 the right track and to have had a prospect of great usefulness. 

 During its brief existence it gave to the business of fruit culture 

 a niarked impetus. The statements and reports published, show 

 a healthy interest in all parts of the State. Indeed, the decade 

 from 1850 to 1860, seems to have been a propitious era in fruit 

 culture in the State. During that period the State Society, just 

 mentioned, the Bangor and Portland Horticultural Societies, the 

 State Agricultural Society and most of the County societies were 

 in active operation. 



During the same period many gardens and orchards were planted, 

 and in all parts of the State the attention of agriculturists and 

 amateurs was directed to improved fruit culture. The progress 

 made in the other States and in Europe, and the extensive circu- 

 lation of horticultural journals and books had much to do with it. 

 But from that time to the present, there has been, if not an actual 

 decadence, a decrease of interest iti the business. 



The war, interrupting the arts of peace, turned mens' thoughts 



*The following names are taken from the published report of the couaiuittee on pears, 

 plums and grapes, at the exhibition of 1855 : ( I have not had access to any other reports, 

 or an opportunity to learn who were the exhibitors in other departments ) E. Swan, 

 H. B Hoskins, Dr. E. J. Ford, R. H. Gardiner, Esq , and Nathan Foster, of Gardiner; 

 Dr. Moses Call of Newcastle; L. T. Jackson, Brunswick; John Currier, Waldoboro'; 

 Mr. Kezarof Winthrop; C. Spaulding, Hallowell; F. Wingate, Augusta; S. L. Goodalo, 

 Saco; John Rogers, Kittery; J. F. Jennings, Wayne. 



