STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 43 



ness. Those who attempt to raise fruit without extra care may 

 obtain a good crop in years of plenty, when of course prices are so 

 low that the receipts will barely pay expenses, but the art of raising 

 a'good crop when prices are high is what we are seeking for, and 

 those who, by good cultivation and extra care, can guard against 

 the ravages of insects and diseases will receive bountiful returns for 

 their labor. 



It is with great pleasure that we note the increased interest taken 

 lay our farmers in supplying the family with small fruits. Would 

 that I could impress upon ever}' farmer the necessity of having, not 

 onl}' a good vegetable garden, but could show him the ease with 

 -which bushels upon bushels of small fiuits can be produced at a 

 cost but a little above the expense of raising corn or potatoes. Too 

 many of them look upon small fruits as a luxury only, forgetting 

 that our health requires, particularly in the summer, the acids which 

 are here supplied, and that his table can be furnished with a dessert 

 more palatable and much cheaper than cake and pastr}'. Few 

 people who have depended upon the market for their berries, can 

 realize how delicious is the strawberry or blackberry as grown in 

 the home garden and allowed to remain upon the plant until thor- 

 oughly ripe, and having enjoyed such fruit, we venture to say, the 

 fruit garden will not be neglected. 



For several years our Society has assumed the management of the 

 horticultural part of the exhibit of the Maine State Agricultural 

 Society at Lewiston. AVe are thus obliged to hold our fruit exhibit 

 before our winter apples have matured, and if we continue this prac- 

 tice, I would recommend offering liberal premiums for an exhibition 

 of fruit at our winter meeting. This would necessitate holding the 

 meeting early in the winter, if we would secure a fine exhibit of late 

 autumn and winter fruit. 



The practice of making an exhibit of our Maine apples whenever 

 a,n opportunity oflers, should be continued, to advertise our fruit and 

 secure more buyers. We should feel satisfied with our success in 

 obtaining premiums, whenever we have made a display in competi- 

 tion with other states. 



I desire to call your attention at this time to the necessity of 

 requesting our legislature to take some action to prevent ihe 

 spread of insects and diseases in our orchards, particularly of the 

 trypeta or apple maggot, and the disease called "black-knot" of 

 the plum. If our people fully understood the character of this 



