STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79 



In fact Mr. Fernald's paper treated the subject about as fairly 

 and fully as it could be treated. I was pleased to listen to 

 it. Every nurseryman can make money so far as he does it 

 honestly and is right in it. We have no fault to find so far 

 as they are honest, although it is exasperating sometimes to 

 go home and learn a tree vender has been at your house and 

 secured an order from some member of your family. There 

 was a time when we were dependent more or less upon the 

 Western States for fruit trees, but that time has passed, and 

 the time has arrived for the declaration of independence in 

 regard to the nursery business. The time has come when 

 the State of Maine can stand upon its own basis. I think 

 the remedy is, in the State of Maine growing her own stock. 

 I have no doubt that among the persons mentioned in the 

 report you can find plenty of reliable men of whom you can 

 purchase trees as advantageously as from the Western or 

 New York tree venders. I want to sa}^ a word in regard to 

 the expense of buying these shrubs, vines and trees from 

 other States. I presume it would surprise any man in this 

 assembly if he could figure up the amount of money taken 

 from the State of Maine for nursery stock in one year. 

 Question. What do you estimate the amount? 

 Answer. I have no statistics. 



Mr. Atherton. I think Mr. Rice was going to tell us 

 the remedy to prevent our good people from sending so 

 much money from the State. Now, it is a fact that we send 

 a great deal of money from the State for corn. I think Mr. 

 Boardman says $2,500,000 a year, and it is evident that we 

 ousht to raise more corn. I think the remedy for that is 

 plain enough. It is so with wheat. We have been sending 

 out of the State a large amount of money each year for our 

 flour, and the only way is to raise more ourselves. That I 

 think is the only remedy for us in regard to apple trees, for 

 our own nurserymen to raise for us just as good trees, and in 

 sufficient quantities, as can be raised out of the State, and 

 furnish them to us at reasonable prices. 



