8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Fruit Growers' Association, an association comprising over 

 1.400 members. This gentleman has attended many of their 

 exhibits in Rochester and he says that never at any exhibit 

 there has been seen such a splendid display of fruit as he sees 

 here tonight. 



I believe firmly in the future growth and development of the 

 State of Maine. I believe that there is no state in the Union 

 today making more rapid progress in commercial, industrial 

 and agricultural lines than in Maine. But in order to promote 

 this advancement in which we are all so interested, we need 

 more cooperation on the part of all of us. Surely we cannot 

 accomplish things unless we all get together with the firm 

 determination of making Maine stand where she should. 



Now the Bangor Chamber of Commerce has a slogan, and 

 it is ''Boom Maine by eating Maine apples." That is a splendid 

 slogan, and particularly so to the State Pomological Society, 

 and I believe it is one that should be carried further than this 

 convention. 



We are glad to have you here with us. We hope that your 

 deliberations will be beneficial, and that you will carry away 

 with you a pleasing impression of Bangor. 



RESPONSE. 



By Dr. Leon S. Merrill, University of Maine. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



I do not know that I ever approached a duty with greater 

 embarrassment than the present one, — first, because this is one 

 of the occasions when a man ought to be able to say just the 

 right thing; second, because of lack of sufficient time to pre- 

 pare myself for the task ; third, because to properly express 

 our appreciation for the happy circumstances surrounding this 

 occasion is difficult. But we sincerely hope, Mr. Mayor, that 

 the program we have prepared, and this splendid exhibit of the 

 fruits of the farms of Maine now displayed before us, and the 

 general manifestation of pleasure and happiness by those in 

 attendance, will convey to you and to the gentlemen of the 

 Chamber of Commerce in terms far more definite and emphatic 

 than any w^hich I may give expression to, our appreciation of 

 your interest in the industry we represent, the assistance you 

 have given to make this meeting a success, and the plans you 



