STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. §9 



had the enquiry made of them since our organization. To the un- 

 initiated this seems a question easy to be answered, yet it is gen- 

 erally found that those who know the most about fruit are the 

 most reluctant to answer it. In order to be able to convey this 

 desirable information, the Society early had in view the prepara- 

 tion of a list of fruits for Maine. This took shape at our winter 

 meeting-, a year ago, in the appointment of a committee, consist- 

 ing of Z. A. Gilbert, S. L. Goodale and S. F. Perley, to take the 

 matter into consideration, and report at the present time. The 

 failing health of Mr. Perley did not allow of his rendering any 

 assistance in this direction, and his resignation was accepted, and 

 Henry McLaughlin appointed to fill the vacancy. The committee 

 thus constituted, realizing that all pomological knowledge was not 

 by them possessed, issued the following circular to the fruit grow- 

 ers of the State : 



"Dear Sir: — At a meeting of the Maine State Pomological 

 Society, held at Augusta, January, 1874, the undersigned were 

 chosen a Committee to prepare a Catalogue of Fruits for Maine, to 

 be presented at the next Winter Meeting of the Society, to be held 

 Jan. 20, 1875, and subsequently to be published in the Secretary's 

 Second Annual Report. Our State embraces a wide range of lati- 

 tude, and different varieties do not succeed equally well in all 

 sections. The knowledge of the Committee is, in a measure, local. 

 In order that the Catalogue maj'^ be made as reliable as possible, 

 information should be drawn from all available sources in every 

 section of the State. We therefore ask you to send to the Chair- 

 man of the Committee, Z. A. Gilbert, East Turner, a list of fruits 

 grown in your section, with the leading characteristics of each 

 variety stated as concisely as possible, in replies to the following 

 questions — 



1. Is it hardy? 2. Is it prolific ? 3. Season? 4. Quality? 

 5. Valuable for market or home use ? 



Also, give any other information relating to a variety, which 

 you may be able. All new varieties and kinds not well known 

 should be described in full. 



All replies should be forwarded on or before Jan. 1, 1875. 



Z. A. GILBERT, 

 S. L. GOODALE, 



n. McLaughlin, 



Commiitee on Catalogue of Fruits. 

 December 1, 1874." 



