The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-02
STATE PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY
Winter Meeting at Winthrop.

WINTHROP, March 1, 1873.
The fifth annual Winter meeting of he
Maine State Pathological Society was held in
the Town Hall commencing Oh Wednesday,
and closed this forenoon. President q. A. Gill
bert, of East Turner, was present and presided
over the deliberations of the meeting with his
usual grace and ability. Geo. B. Sawyer, Esq,
Secretary, of Wiscasset, and Chas. S. Pope.
Treasurer, of Manchester. and goodly num-
Der of the members of the Society were also
present and participated in the discussions of
the various topics before the meeting. Many
Of the farmers and ladies of this fine agricultu-
raj and fruit region improved this opportunity
to visit and take part in the exercises of the &C.
casion. Distant parts of the state were also
represented in the convention.
At the opening sessions on Wednesday even
ing, after the announcements of the general
programme, Mr.. B. q. Torsey, of Winthrop,
welcomed the Society in behalf of the citizens
of the town.
He briefly sketched in very interesting
manner, the history of the county and town,
and especially of fruit growing in Winthrop.
Winthrop was settled 10 1865; was iDcorpora-
in I'LL. The town is closely connected with
the history of the moral enterprise Of our Gen.
tury Here theI1st agricultural society in thestate
spicuous in the Temperance and Anti-slavery
movements, through which our present genera
ton has been so signally benefited.
Pres. Gilbert responded thanking the people
of Winthrop for their kind welcome, and the
Secretary made brief remarks on the organza-
ton and history of the Society. The State
genealogical Society was organized in 1873, un-
der the auspices of the Board of Agriculture in
accordance with a conviction lin the minds of
the members and other carefal observers that
the important interests of fruit culture in the
state needed more thorough and systematic at
tenton than it could in the nature of things re-
ceive from the Board or from the State or local
agricultural societies. The Society has held
five annual exhibitions and four previous win
ter meetings each of which has given evidence
of gradual increase in usefulness and interest
The Society receives to a limited extent, the
patronage of the State, enabling it to publish
annual reports of its transactions in the Re-
ports of the Board of Agriculture, and small
edition for the use of the members as separate
pamphlet. Similar societies exist in nearly all
of the States of the Union and sthe Provinces
Of Canada, all working by similar means and
meeting with the same obstacles as this With
the most of the societies, the Maine Society is
in correspondence, exchanging publications and
deriving great benefit from their labors.
The President then delivered his annual ad-
dress, stating concisely the objects of the Soci-
ETY., and the steps taken year by year to pro-
mOfe the interests of fruit culture. The first
year settled the point that Maine can and ought
TO grow her own fruit trees. At another the
subject Of pear culture was presented and fully
discussed.
Last year the principal subject was thorough
and persistent cultivation of trees Duty COM
pels us to take issue at this time with the tree
peddlers of Russian and crab apples and crab
rooted apple trees with which the State is being
flooded, Those who need the information
most to be derived from the advantages afforded
by the Societw, do not come here, but stay
away.
He spoke of the lack of proper informa-
ton of tree-agents respecting the actual wants
of our people, of the proper methods to restore
productiveness to our orchard lands, and the
advantages of public discussions and exhibi-
lions in promoting any special branch of farm
ing We need the aid of nurserymeni and
fruit growers. The Society embrace horticul-
ture and Horticulture.
An original essay on "Planting an orchard
by DR.. N. T. True of Bethel was read, pre-
faced by remarks by the president. DIR. True
gave many valuable hints connected with the
preparation of soil and general management of
setting; spoke of the importance of clean Guilt
walton and mnlching, treated of insects and
late growth in summer. He pruned and
watched his trees every week in the season of
rapid growth. watched against mice and borers
gave them good square meal of dressing for
two or three years. Steady and healthy
growth to BE- taken into account rather than
for dressing. Early fruiting is not desirable.
There is no end to obstacles. faint hearted
man should never plant an orchard.
W. P. Atherton of Hallowell congratulated
the society on the five years success.
On the assembling of the meeting Thursday
forenoon fine display of fruit was beheld on
the tables, contributed by members of the So
cety in the vicinity, embracing samples of best
winter varieties. Also an elegant display OF
of cut flowers from the greenhouse of Miss L.
M. Pope of Manchester. The paper of Dr.
True on "Planting an orchard" was taken up
and discussed by Messrs. Berry of Winthrop,
Smith of Monmouth, Pope of Manchester,
Sawyer of Wiscasset. Howard, Wheeler and
Foster of Winthrop and others.
The society resolved that the setting of seed
ling trees to be grated in the limbs or STOCK
should be recommended rather than trees
grated in the nursery.
An interesting paper on crab apples was read
by the secretary, prepared by Dr.. Henry Rey'
nolds of Lewiston. This topic was thoroughly
discussed, and the extensive planting of GRAFT
apples severely deprecated.
Mr.. Geo. E. Bracket of Belfast submitted
the following resolve, which was adopted:
Resolved, That we unequivocall ycondema
the practice of planting crab apples in Maine
as we regard them utterly worthless for genera
cultivation or as stock for grating.
Mr.. G. S. Robbins read an interesting paper
entitled, lessons from my experience in frui
culture"
Thursday afternoon committee consisting
of Messrs. Anterior of Hallowell, Briggs O
Turner, and Rice of Winthrop was appointed
by the chair to examine and report upon thu
fruit exhibited
A beautiful iernery from the house of Mr.. S
T. Floyd of Winthrop attracted much admira
ton.
The question, "What means are available, i
| any, to restore fertility to our orchards?'' wa
| taken up and discussed by the presentation G
| original papers BY Messrs. Anterior an
| Smith, and with forcble and instructive re
| marks by Messrs. Tinkham of Monmouth
! Woodward, Carr and Floyd of Winthrop an
| others.
An original paper on the Russian apple bus
| mess was read by Granville Fernald Of Harr
| SOD, in which much valuable information wa
| communicated.
| In the evening discussion of various topic
was held, principally on the subject of nul
series in Maine, during which the presder
reported various extensive Maine nurseries as
grevating at least 100000 trees, half of them c
saleable size.
After adjournment the society, by invitatio
| OF the lady members OF Winthrop Grange, 1
| OF d., enjoyed most elegant reception an
banquet at the Grange hall, which was varie
by snort and fitting speeches, music and soci
conversation and pleasant amusements.
Friday morning the society met for business
and to take further action on the furtehr Of
/ perations of the year.
The time and place for holding the next al
nual exhibition was left with the executi'
| committee. G. T.