2 state pomological society. 



The Work of the Society 

 During the past year, beginning- at the close of the Winter 

 Meeting of 1877, and ending with that of 1878, has followed 

 in the same general methods as in previous years, and while 

 seeking as far as possible to avoid falling into a mere lifeless 

 routine, by the adoption or trial of every improvement sug- 

 gested by ol)servation or experience, we have found much in 

 the details of the work that could not be changed for the 

 better. 



It cannot be expected that an organization composed of 

 persons engaged in the various avocations of active life, and 

 but few of them able to make Pomology a leading pursuit, 

 can present themselves before the public year after year 

 without saying much that will appear repetitious. Hence it 

 is, that, saying nothing of the material prosi^erity of the 

 Society, we need a constant accession of new members. On 

 the other hand, it may be said that the principles which lie 

 at the foundation of successful fruit culture in this State, are 

 of such vital importance that they cannot be too often re- 

 peated or too constantly kept in mind. 



Aside fi'om the annual exhibition and winter meeting, the 

 details of which will be given in subsequent pages, the most 

 important undertaking of the year has been that of collecting 

 and publishing full and accurate statistics of the nursery busi- 

 ness of the State, embracing the number, kinds, age, condi- 

 tion and location of fruit trees grown in the State for sale. 

 The Society has from the first taken a decided stand in favor 

 of the home production of trees to supply the wants of the 

 people of the State, — not only to secure stock better adapted 

 to our soil and climate, and more generally of suitable varie- 

 ties, but also to stop the enormous drain of money, amount- 

 ing to many thousands of dollars annually, sent out of the 

 State for the purchase of all sorts of trees known and un- 

 known ; and it will be remembered that at the first Winter 

 Meeting (1874), the subject was fully considered and dis- 

 ci^^sed by the best orchardists of the State, and a* resolution 

 was adpoted "that Maine can and ought to grow her own fruit 



