1J 4 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



a particle of difference. Such as we have is good— it is good 

 for results and the results are unsurpassed. Thank you. 



Mr. Gilbert: An imaginary line separates us from our 

 neighbors in the Granite State. We pass through a section of 

 that state in almost all of our travels into other sections. It is 

 but rare indeed that we have a representative from that state 

 with us here in Maine and it is my pleasure at this time to intro- 

 duce to you the secretary of the New Hampshire Horticultural 

 Society. We have been working him some in the way of award- 

 ing prizes, but we do not want to send him away until we hear 

 from him. Will Mr. Baker step to the platform? 



Mr. Baker : Brother Gilbert told me just a few minutes ago 

 that he should want to hear just a word from me but that the 

 time would be very brief. It reminded me of a little incident 

 that happened to me a few years ago when I found myself over 

 Sunday in one of our little New Hampshire towns. I went to 

 meeting, as they call it, and stayed to the Sunday School after 

 the service, and the superintendent, when he called the school 

 to order, said: "We have with us a brother from one of the 

 neighboring towns and I am going to call on him to offer prayer, 

 and if he prays more than three minutes I shall strike the bell." 

 I am not going to have Brother Gilbert strike the bell on me if 

 I can help it. 



A few days ago I received a letter from your honored presi- 

 dent, a gentleman with whom I have had the honor to be 

 acquainted for a good many years, especially in the dairy line, 

 inviting me to come here and attend this horticultural meeting 

 and meet the people of Maine. It was so that I could come and 

 I very gladly accepted his invitation. On my way here I learned 

 that the Commissioner of Agriculture was to hold a meeting at 

 Saco that evening, and finding that I could make connections 

 I stopped off there. There I met your commissioner, Mr. Gil- 

 man, and also President Fellows, and Mr. Gilman told me when 

 he learned I was coming to Farmington, "Brother Baker, you 

 will find there one of the finest exhibits you ever saw." I was 

 partially prepared by that to see a fine exhibit, but I must say 

 it far exceeds any anticipation I had and I want to congratulate 

 the society most heartily upon the superior excellence of this 

 exhibit, which I think I have examined as carefully as I ever 

 did any exhibit in my life. In 1893 as a superintendent of the 



