34 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



or at the other meetings of the Society ; but we hope that through 

 our exertions a deeper interest may be aroused in these industries 

 throughout the State. The very fact that so little interest is 

 manifested, and so few people attend on the deliberations of the 

 Society, is proof of the necessity of the existence of a society in 

 Maine to work for the interest of horticulture in general and 

 pomology in particular. 



As a citizen of Androscoggin County, let me say, that we who 

 are interested in its advancement are glad to have such meetings 

 held among us, and glad to welcome this Society here, though so 

 few individuals present themselves. The Society has received the 

 encouragment of the press of this city, the papers printed here 

 having circulated the notice of the meeting and called attention to 

 its importance in their editorial columns. We have individuals in 

 this county, and a goodly number of them, who engage exten- 

 sively in the business of fruit-growing, but do not attend such 

 meetings as this. This, to individuals so interested in pomology 

 that they cannot keep away from the meetings, seems almost un _ 

 accountable ; but it is easy to see the reason — these men have 

 engaged in the business, not from an outright love of it, but to 

 make money. We hope before the close of this meeting, that we 

 may see, as we doubtless shall, others of the pomologists of the 

 State and vicinity present. We publish annually a report of the 

 transactions of our Society, which goes out among the fruit grow- 

 ers of the State, and we hope exerts a beneficial influence. I do 

 not wish to take further time in these preliminary remarks but 

 would like to hear from the Hon. Nelson Ham, of Lewiston, a 

 prominent farmer, and Master of the State Grange, and also in- 

 terested in this and similar societies. 



Mr. Ham. Mr. President. I can only say with you that I am 

 happy to welcome the Society here, and that I doubt not that 

 your meeting will awaken a new interest in fruit culture ; that it 

 will call the attention of many of us to this subject, who do not 

 know how to deal with it, or who do not do as well as we know, 

 and have therefore left undone many things that we ought to have 

 done. It has been the fortune or misfortune of many of us to have 

 old orchards which our fathers planted, and we supposed until 

 recently that these trees would endure for all time, until we 

 learned too late that they had passed their day, and we had neg- 

 lected to supply others to take their places. 



