STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33 



tastes of those with whom we meet, and we hope that we have 

 succeeded in arranging a programme that will be satisfactory, and 

 that it may be so carried out as to be acceptable to those who 

 may seek to receive benefits therefrom. 



In this county were made the first efforts in our State for the 

 progress of agriculture, including horticulture and pomology. In 

 the town adjoining this, and in this town too, the leading men put 

 forth the first efforts to lead the rural population up to a higher 

 standard and a greater prosperity. The people of this section 

 have never forgotten those teachings. You are to-day profiting 

 by them. You are leading better lives ; you are a more prosper- 

 ous, more intelligent, and happier people than you would have 

 been but for these efforts and teachings. 



I say you are reaping the advantages of these efforts. The 

 growth may have been slow, but surely does the leaven work. 

 And as surely as you are the better for the efforts of the farmers 

 who preceded you, so surely will our efforts, if we work wisely 

 and well, bear their fruits. So we have a responsibility. It is 

 important that we work well, remembering that we are working 

 not for to-day only but for all time to come ; and with this assur- 

 ance, realizing the importance of our labors and the necessity for 

 them, we have this compensation — that as a Society we have been 

 fortunate ever since our organization in falling among friends ; 

 and that the efforts of the Society in the cause for which we are 

 laboring are appreciated by the best class of our people. We 

 believe this from the fact that wherever we have gone we have 

 met with a warm welcome, but never more so than at the present 

 time. We feel doubly encouraged in view of this. 



Allow me then, in closing these remarks, to again thank you for 

 the welcome that we have received, and also, lest there may not 

 be another opportunity, let me tender the thanks of the Society 

 for the hospitable entertainment that has been proffered to us. 

 These kindnesses of yours are appreciated ; the recollection of 

 them will be carried home by us, and will remain in our memories 

 as pleasant reminders of this occasion. 



