34 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The cultivation of fruit by the amateur — by those who plant 

 trees and viues, tend and care for their growth and watch the 

 development of the fruit, because they are irresistably drawn to 

 it, because they cannot help it — is also remunerative. Although 

 the compensation does not always come in the form realized by 

 him who pursues it as a business, yet the reward is abundant and 

 sure. Not only is he rewarded with an abundance of choice 

 fruits for himself and his family and friends, but he is rewarded 

 also by the enhanced value of his homestead when adorned by 

 these surroundings, and also by the influence which the employ- 

 ment has upon the instincts of the heart, and upon the refinement, 

 the taste, and the welfare of society around him. The employ- 

 ment has an elevating influence, felt not only by him who engages 

 in it, but also by all who enjoy the increased beauty and attrac- 

 tiveness which that labor has created. 



Recognizing the fact that fruit growing is of great importance 

 among us — that it is a source of individual prosperity and of 

 national wealth, and believing that it should be encouraged and 

 promoted by organized effort, the friends of the cause conceived 

 the idea of organizing a State Pomological Society. The history 

 of its organization and of its progress thus far need not be here 

 recounted, as it is familiar to you all. In its inception it received 

 the encouragement of a goodly number of prominent fruit growers. 

 It has also met with obstacles and with discouragements ; but 

 through them all its friends have persevered till we are enabled to 

 meet this evening at this, the initial exhibition of the Maine State 

 Pomological Society, to engage in exercises which it is hoped 

 may be annually repeated for many years to come. 



In designing and arranging this first exhibition of our society, 

 .and in drawing together the contributiois of which it is composed, 

 there have been many obstacles to overcome. It has required a 

 deal of earnest work — more, quite likely, than will be required for 

 subsequent exhibitions — -and those duties, by your grace, were 

 consigned to ofiQcers inexperienced in the work devolving upon 

 them. We have had to feel our way through unknown paths. 

 That mistakes have been made we know. The season has proved 

 unpropitious. Hardly in the history of our State has there been 

 a more unfavorable year for fruit. Following a year of almost 

 unprecedented productiveness it could hardly have been expected 

 that an average crop could be realized. Following this were the 

 destructive and discouraging effects of the severe winter expert- 



