36 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



three-fold to the value of my farm, witliout a corresponding out- 

 lay of money ; and I would advise any man whose land is adapted 

 to it to plant fruit trees, believing that there is nothing that for 

 the same ouday will, if properly attended to, give aa remunerative 

 returns. 



After the close of Mr. Ham's remarks the Society listened to 

 the 



Annual Address of the President, 



Z. A. GILBEIIT, OF KAST TURNER. 



An established custom makes it the duty of the President of this 

 Society to give an opening address, in which are to be presented, 

 at his option, such points as are deemed important and worthy the 

 consideration of the Society. In accordance with this custom, I 

 ask your attention for a brief time to such matters as have forcibly 

 presented themselves for consideration in the course of the trans- 

 actions of the Society during the past 3'ear, and attention to which, 

 it is believed, will increase the eflSciency and> usefulness of the 

 Society. 



The year 1875 has been in many respects quite exceptional in 

 general horticultural matters. The vegetable crop was fully up to 

 an average, and in some varieties and in certain localities, even 

 going beyond this. Floriculture was never more successful. In 

 perl'ection of growth and profusion of bloom it could hardly be 

 excelled. The season was especially favorable for this branch of 

 horticulture, and the increased attention being given to it by nearly 

 all classes of our citizens, will by this success be encouraged to 

 still further efforts than it has heretofore received. In the depart- 

 ment which this Society, as its name indicates, is especially en- 

 gaged in encouraging, no such success can be recorded. Apples 

 have come as near being a failure in this State as was ever the 

 case. Nor is the scarcity confined alone to Maine ; the country 

 over, the crop was short. While in some few localities of limited 

 extent there was a fair crop, yet on the whole the country is short 

 of this indispensable crop. Pears, whicli are year by year assum- 

 ing more importance in our catalogue of fruits, were relatively in 

 better supply than apples, yet these did not yield so bountifully 

 as is usually the case. Grapes, open air, were a failure, emphati- 

 cally. For three years in succession, now, has this fruit been cut 

 short by the cold seasons. Some kinds of the small fruits gave 

 bountiful returns, which in a small measure makes up for the short 

 supply in other directions. Notwithstanding, however, the dis- 



