STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 7 



limbs interlaced a Flemish Beauty pear. In shape it was a perfect 

 pear, but in other respects it was an apple. In another case an 

 apple was shown, the blossom end of which was a beautiful red 

 Baldwin, and the stem end a well-developed Russet. These freaks 

 suggest that in years to come some skilful horticulturist may be 

 able to bring forth new fruits, that may excel those we now have. 

 When we are able to work more fully with nature's laws we are 

 likely to be rewarded by fruits far better than the present favorites. 



AGENCIES AT WORK. 



There has been an active and cordial co-operation on the part of 

 the press in the State. The Secretary desires to express his per- 

 sonal gratitude to the Maine Farmer, Lewiston Journal and Ken- 

 nebec Journal in particular. Special prominence has been given 

 to horticultural subjects by the gentlemen having in charge the 

 agricultural departments of these journals. They have not only 

 given fruit matters intelligent consideration, but in many cases 

 have diligently and ably investigated for themselves, and they have 

 generously given the public the benefit of these labors. The Lew- 

 iston Journal recently published in answer to the inquiries of its 

 agricultural editor results reached by fruit growers of the State in 

 spraying for the destruction of fungi and insects. The experience 

 of several fruit growers was found very readable and the conclu- 

 sions will prove helpful to others. So much is found in the 

 papers on fruit culture, prepared by writers or speakers 

 from other sections of the country, it is worth a great deal to have 

 these conclusions reached on Maine farms and in a Maine climate. 

 Even those speakers who visit us and talk of fruit culture, forget 

 that they are away from home, and tell us just how these things 

 are done in New York or New Jersey. It is not an easy task to 

 adapt their talk and theories to Maine conditions. Information 

 was sought upon this question, "Can farmers afford to raise apples 

 for $1.25 a barrel?" It was ably d'scussed by several writers and 

 the conclusion reached that intelligent care bestowed upon orchards 

 in Maine would pay as well or better at this price than many other 

 farm crops. The Secretary would add to this, that with our low 

 priced orchard land the minimum cost of raising apples has not 

 yet been reached. It is not kuown how cheaply apples may be 

 grown in Maine, and until this feature of the problem is 

 considered it is largely guess work. The fruit growers of 



