STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 63 



and health to the fruit growing interest of the State. I believe in 

 the possibilities of Maine, Is there any doubt that Maine has the 

 soil to grow her trees? Is there any doubt at all, that, as in 

 other business, when we make it the interest of our people to 

 buy their trees in Maine, they will do it ? Is there any doubt of 

 the ability of the people of Maine to find out what kind of trees 

 we need, and to grow them ? My idea is, that the moment we 

 create this opinion, and see that trees grown here are the trees we 

 want, there will be no trouble about selling them. Can you grow 

 them profitably ? Is not that the question ? Is any citizen of 

 Maine going to New York to buy a thousand trees, and pay more 

 for them than for a thousand trees grown in Maine ? We as a 

 society should try to exert an influence here to induce the people 

 to look at this question. I believe in the ability of Maine to do 

 her manufacturing. Nature has done something for us in our 

 water-powers, our harbors and our lands. We grow men and send 

 them from Maine. We have the will to grow our own fruit trees, 

 but, Mr. President, does not the question resolve itself to this ; 

 can we grow them at a profit ? And when we satisfy the people 

 that it is for their interest to grow them here, they will do it. 



I am in the mercantile business, and I wish we could take all 

 our merchandise right into our back doors at a less cost than to 

 , go from, home for it ; but we have to import some and to manu- 

 facture some, and to do what is for our interest. 



I have done but little in the tree business. About twelve years 

 ago I planted some New York trees, and they have done well ; but 

 I think the cultivation has had something to do with it. I believe 

 we have the soil, the climate and the men, and can grow our trees 

 just as well as any other State, and can grow them with profit. 



Mr. Atherton. I wish to say that I believe we have as good 

 soil for raising fruit trees as any other State, and I do not 

 know but better ; and that there is capital and enterprise enough 

 in this State to raise our own trees. I wish to say again, that I 

 am in favor of it, and would do all in my power to encourage it. 

 But there are two things which we must consider ; one is that our 

 summers are short, and the other that our winters are long and 

 severe. We must look at all sides of this question. What is the 

 cause of the reported failures with imported trees ? That must be 

 taken into account. 



In my own town there are parties who have purchased New 

 York trees and have set them out and that ia all, have given them 



