40 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



high degree of perfection in the southern and central divisions of 

 the State do not mature their growth when taken to the northern 

 section, and do not prove hardy. This Society should take meas- 

 ures to learn the merits of varieties of apples grown in high north- 

 ern latitudes in other States in our own country, and also in for- 

 eign countries ; and if any promise to be valuable for our high 

 latitude, they should be introduced and tested. A special com- 

 mittee might be raised to look up the matter, by searching for in- 

 formation through all available sources, and procuring scions or 

 trees of such varieties as promise to be valuable, with instructions 

 to report progress from time to time. Northern Vermont is grow- 

 ing to a considerable extent, some varieties of late-keeping apples 

 which have never been introduced here. 



Gentlemen, 1 have thus briefly alluded to some matters which 

 have presented themselves to my mind during the past year — 

 matters which seem to be within the reach of the Society in its 

 present standing and condition. While I would not press these 

 as paramount to all others, nor to the exclusion of others which 

 you can name, yet we must ever bear in mind that we are organ- 

 ized for a purpose, The State, seeing the need of work in the 

 direction in which we are supposed to be laboring, granted us a 

 small fund from its treasury that we might successfully carry on 

 the work. We owe it to the State that we work faithfully, and 

 show good returns for all we receive from her hands. It is true, 

 no striking and marked results can be made apparent at once, but 

 if in the work of this Society its true object be ever held in view, 

 and ever kept to the front, we shall as a Society meet with that 

 success for which every true member is laboring — the promotion 

 of the Pomology of the State. 



The next exercise of the afternoon was the presentation of the 

 following paper, on 



Orcharding as a Business. 



BY ALFRED SMITH, OF MONMOUTn. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: — In coming before the 

 intelligent members of the Maine State Pomological Society, I am 

 well aware of my inability to do justice to the subject of Pomology 

 or Orcharding as a business in Maine, as it is a subject of so great 

 interest to every man, especially to every farmer and lover of fruit. 



Maine is only in its infancy as a fruit growing State, and if the 

 business is intelligently entered into and persistently pursued by 



