STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. HI 



Michigan claims to be the banner apple State. Mr. Ilgenfritz, 

 representative of the State Agricultural and Pomological Societies 

 of Michigan, informed me that they, had placed on exhibition 250 

 varieties of apples, 60 of pears, 22 of grapes, 30 of peaches, and 

 19 of plums. They made a splendid show, occupying several 

 tables loaded down with fruit. A correspondent of the Country 

 Gentleman is of the opiuion that the apple crop of Michigan is of 

 more commercial importance, as compared with other farm pro- 

 ducts, than is the case in any other State. He also asserts that 

 the Michigan Pomological Society is composed mainly of the very 

 best class of farmers, — men of more than ordinary ability and 

 education, — and that as a Society, they are earnestly and intelli- 

 gently working to develop the fruit growing interests of their 

 State. Another significant fact is, that they have the cooperation 

 of the Legislature and State government to a larger degree than 

 is received by any other State Society of the kind. Their annual 

 Pomological reports are volumes of 500 to 600 pages, published 

 at the expense of the State, — and besides, an appropriation is 

 made to defray the expenses of the officers of the Society. Mr. 

 Ilgenfritz informed us that the State appropriated $5000.00 to 

 defray the expenses of their exhibition of fruits at Philadelphia, 

 and that they should nearly or quite double this expenditure. 

 Two full car loads of fruit were taken to the Centennial from that 

 State after the time of the general pomological exhibits in Sep- 

 tember. As it is, we are inclined to accord to Michigan the 

 honor of being the Banner Apple State. Why should we not do 

 so ? Let no Maine man say it is all because they have a milder 

 climate, or a more congenial soil for fruit culture, for we are not 

 inclined to yield this point at present. They have in Michigan as 

 cold weather as we ever have — the mercury running down to 35° 

 and 40° below zero. They have their winter killing seasons, the 

 pear blight, the borer, the canker worm, the caterpillar and the 

 curculio as well as we. Their apples will average a little larger 

 than our own, and their crops may be heavier, but considering 

 our locality, it being easy of access to market, both home and 

 foreign, the high coloring, sprightly flavor and good keeping qual- 

 ities of Maine fruit, we believe that better returns are realized for 

 the labor bestowed and the money judiciously invested, than is 

 realized in any Western or Southern State. 



The collection of apples from Nova Scotia was a very creditable 

 one, — shown by Mr, Robert W. Starr and his wife, of Cornwallis, — 



