STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 135 



EEPORT FROM PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, 



Extract from a letter of Calvin Chamberlain to the Corresponding Secretary, dated 



Foxcroft, February 17, 1876. 



The past season has not brought any marked changes in the 

 general condition of the fruit interest of this county. Orchards 

 are being set, and trees are seen to die to a considerable extent in 

 each year. Some lose courage thereat, and talk loud against trees 

 and those who sell them. A few keep steadily on, grow a few 

 trees, or buy them, and extend the orchards. We had a short 

 crop of apples, and the price of the best was $2.00 per bushel at 

 harvest time, but soon fell to $1.50, and still continues at about 

 that price ; and they are yet freely offered in this village. 



For the encouragement of nursery and orchard culture, the 

 Piscataquis Central Agricultural Society, last summer, offered pre- 

 miums payable three years hence. The first premium, on nursery, 

 was $30.00, and with the troublesome condition attached, that at 

 least two thousand (2,000) grafted trees of approved varieties 

 should be in good condition at the end of the trial term. Several 

 coveted the $30.00, and the committee having the matter in charge 

 was beset with many propositions for a change of conditions, so 

 that the money might pass without the fearful responsibility of 

 that 2,000 trees. The result is, no applicants are in for the pre- 

 mium. 



Previous to the last annual meeting I took occasion to speak 

 favorably of an apple which I obtained in Oneida county, N. Y., 

 under the name of Pound Sour. Last September, while in Utica, 

 I attended the Central N. Y. Fair, holden in that city, and there 

 saw the apple on exhibition under the name of Pound Royal. Dur- 

 ing the present winter some correspondence with Mr. Charles 

 Downing in relation to this apple, has resulted in clearing up this 

 matter to his satisfaction. In his last letter upon the subject he 

 writes me, Dec. 31st, 1875, and says: "The apples arrived this 

 morning, and I write to say that is the Golden Pippin of ' Down- 

 ing's Fruits,' page 195, second revised edition. It should have 

 been called Large Golden Pippin, to distinguish it from two or 

 three other Golden Pippins." 



