STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 27 



seemed to warrant it. Never, perhaps, in our State has so well 

 arranged and perfect an exhibition of our Maine fruits been 

 brought together, as on this occasion ; and it was a matter of 

 constant regret that so few persone were present to enjoy and 

 study it. During a portion of the time it was accompanied by un- 

 favorable weather, — but, judging from the attendance with which 

 it opened, it would hardly have been better had good weather 

 continued throughout the week. And yet the extent, character, 

 and systematic arrangement of the exhibition was such that it 

 would have been a paying investment for every fruit- grower of 

 any pretensions, to have spent two days in a careful study of the 

 varieties on exhibition. They would, in that time, have obtained 

 a better practical and correct knowledge of fruit than they could 

 by a twenty years' experience on their own farms ; and taking 

 advantage of the knowledge they would have gained, could have 

 carried on their business with higher intelligence and larger profit. 

 What they have lost by not attending this exhibition will always 

 be a source of regret, but it can in part be made up to some, by 

 visiting future fairs of the Society. 



The arrangements for systematizing the exhibition, not only for 

 the convenience of the exhibitors and judges, but for the benefit 

 of the public, were most complete — involving a deal of labor on 

 the part of the Secretary, which were in most instances admirably 

 carried out. Fruit lists, separate labels for varieties, and exhibi- 

 tors' names, accompanied each exhibit ; and by the use of various 

 blanks and printed forms the essential and imperishable facts of 

 the exhibition, regarding each individual sort and variety, were 

 recorded for the future use of the Society and the future good of 

 the Pomology of Maine. These results will appear in the transac- 

 tions of the Society, and there its good will become immortal, 

 even though the beauty of its loaded tables last but a few days, 

 and is seen by but few persons. 



It is discouraging, we must admit, to hold these fairs year after 

 year, to go through with the labor they involve, have nobody at- 

 tend them, and in the end find it impossible to meet the small bills 

 incurred, by the still smaller receipts which come into the treas- 

 ury of the Society. This ought not so to be. The Society should 

 have a thousand annual members in this State, and it soon would 

 have, did fruit-growers but appreciate the importance of the work 

 it is doing for the good of Maine Pomology, one of the great in- 

 terests of our people. They must awake to this matter, and lend 



