60 STATE POMOLUGICAL SOCIETY. 



sheltered place, and were planted without any system of rows and 

 squares. 



President Gilbert was asked to express an opinion on tlie state- 

 ment in the paper that the fruit growers of Maine cannot compete 

 with the Southern and Western States in the production of early 

 autumn fruit, and (Mr. A. L. Simpson, Vice President, in the 

 chair) he responded as follows : 



Since I have been called upon, it may be proper for me to add 

 sometliing to what has been said. Let me first emphatically en- 

 dorse the paper to which we all so instructively listened. I mean 

 no vain compliment when I say that it is very seldom that we lis- 

 ten to a paper which comprehends so thoroughly the leading prin- 

 ciples of pomology, and states so fully, so completely and so 

 plainly what is and what is not to be recommended ; at least up 

 to the point where the subject of varieties was entered upon, which 

 is a very delicate one, and one on which we cannot agree because 

 there are so many modifying circumstances. 



I want to give a special endorsement to some of the thoughts 

 and conclusions presented, and I hope the Society will do the 

 same. The first position was that the business of growing fruit 

 cannot be overdone. We frequently hear it said that if all the 

 trees brought into Maine should produce fruit, it would be so 

 plent}' that it would be worthless. Not only do we hear this in 

 regard to fruit, but we hear the general statement that if men rush 

 into specialties they will overdo them. Now the statement made 

 by Mr. Smith, that the business cannot be overdone, should be 

 endorsed by the Society. We have proved this year that it can- 

 not be overdone. But a very small percentage of the fruit con- 

 sumed in Maine this year is grown within her borders. This 

 proves that we might increase the business a hundred fold and it 

 would not be overdone. If wo could increase it a hundred fold I 

 believe it can be proved that it would then be a better, surer busi- 

 ness than it now is. 



Another point — few trees well cared for rather than many trees 

 neglected. That is a good and safe doctrine always. There is a 

 disposition to keep purchasing and planting, to the neglect of 

 those trees that are already set out. This is wrong. It is better 

 to give what trees you have the cultivation that is needed rather 

 than plant new trees to be neglected. If I had the privilege of 

 taking you into orchards which I know of in this section, where 

 each tree on the premises seems to be the tree that has received 



