78 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



jNIr. Atherton. I am willing, for one, to take it for 

 granted that the majority of these men who are raising seed- 

 ling trees are reliable men. 



The President. I think we may be sure that the most of 

 those we have reported are men to be relied upon, and that 

 they are originating their trees. 



Mr. Rice. Asking questions seems to be in order, and I 

 will ask if it is not as well to be cheated in .our own nest as 

 it is to be cheated by a foreign nest, and have the money go 

 abroad ? 



The President. We have but little time to devote to the 

 further consideration of this question. I think that from the 

 figures which have been given me, that we may calculate we 

 have some 500,000 good apple trees in the State, now grow- 

 ing ; aird of these there is something like 200,000 ready for 

 market, and these will go a great way towards supplying this 

 State with trees. It would retain a considerable amount of 

 money among us, and you would be as likely to get as good 

 results — I may say better — than by buying trees from abroad. 

 Will Mr. Rice pursue this subject further? 



Mr. Rice. I do not rise to address you at length. I sup- 

 pose I am speaking to many who are better informed on this 

 subject, perhaps, than I am. I consider that this nursery 

 business in Maine lies at the base of all our prosperity in fruit 

 growing. "As the twig is bent so is the tree inclined." As 

 the tree gets started so will it grow. I would like to hear 

 this matter treated candidly and fairly. I do not think we do 

 well to harbor any ill-feelings towards an}' person engaged in 

 a lawful trade, even if he is a tree vender. Everybody is 

 free in this country. We cannot place any tariif upon trees 

 from other States. It is on the basis of free trade. What 

 are we going to do? We cannot say the Ncav York and 

 Western trees shall not be brought in here. It is but fair 

 competition. There has been a tendency during these ses- 

 sions to point out evils and neglect the remedy, that is, with- 

 out suggesting a practical remedy. What we want is to 

 point out the remedy. This subject has been fully ventilated. 



