108 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ate, we were sorry, yes ashamed, to find missing from among the 

 multitude of men and tbiufrs on exhibition there. I did not say 

 there were no women and children there. On the contrary, like 

 the potatoes and apples, there were all sorts, all colors and sizes, — 

 on foot and on wheels, with canes and umbrellas, and without, — 

 protected and unprotected ; and if we may judge from a two- 

 weeks' jamming experience in Philadelphia, he was a lucky man 

 who had neither of these under his immediate protection. 



Through the kindness of the gentlemanly janitor, Mr. Brackett 

 of Iowa, we secured the table we desired, in a central location. 

 The fruit came out of the packages in fine order, very few speci- 

 mens having suffered from the previous handling and the journey 

 from Waterville. The space allotted us was ample, and we wished 

 we had forwarded a larger quantity. 



Our first work was to put the fruit in order and arrange it to 

 show to the best advantage. This done, and the large placards 

 on which we caused to be printed the words " Maine Fruits," 

 placed over the table so that they might be seen from any portion 

 of the building, we were now ready for the inspection of the 

 Fruit Judges. 



Whatever complaints may have been made as to the inefficiency 

 of the judges in other departments, the fruit department was 

 favored with experts, who performed their arduous duties faith- 

 fully. Our fruit received high commendations at the time of their 

 examination, and we have since been notified that it was awarded 

 a diploma and a medal. 



Well, as we stood and looked across the table, we said, as did 

 the Commissioners also, " We are glad this fruit is shown here." 

 I need not say to you who have seen such a table of fruit on 

 exhibition, that it was indeed beautiful. Notwithstanding the 

 impromptu manner in which the enterprise was set on foot and 

 carried out, it was a success. We received the congratulations 

 of the Commissioners, as well as of many prominent fruit judges 

 and fruit growers from different portions of the country. All 

 acknowledged that ours was a creditable show of fruit. We 

 found, too, that the impression prevailed quite generally, in other 

 States, that we could not grow good fruit, because of our close 

 proximitj' to the Arctic regions. A few plates of pears and about 

 one hundred and fifty varieties of apples comprised our list. 

 Here I wish to remark, that the tables in Pomological Ilall were 

 poorly arranged, being constructed with three stories or shelves 



