.f^n t DEPARTMENT OF ACiHlCULTUKE 3lt 



1 was very auxious to come to this meeting. 1 wanted to meet 

 and talk with the men who have stood by this society up to the 

 present time. Your organization has done and is still doing good 

 work, and should be encouraged. It has done much to develop the 

 horticultural interests of this State and much yet remains for it to 

 do. Years ago, the hills in Juniata county were a synonym for 

 poverty. The lowlands and meadows only were deemed worthy the 

 attention of the farmer and fruit grower, until a shoemaker, a gradu- 

 ate of David Miller's fruit farm in Cumberland county, planted a 

 peach orchard there and became the pioneer of a great and profit- 

 able horticultural industry. I am informed that in one year there 

 came into the Mifflin banks |100,000 for peaches alone. This is one 

 of the practical results that has followed the teachings of this so- 

 ciety. Y^ours is not a selfish organization, but your experiences, 

 your successes and failures are given freely to all who may care to 

 profit by them. Surely this organization will not entertain the 

 thought of abandoning its work now. 



Excepting California, this is probably the best State in the Union 

 for fruit growing, and even California does not grow as good fruit 

 as Pennsylvania. I think it can be proven by abundant testimony, 

 that for flavor, our fruit, especially apples and peaches, stands at 

 the head of the list. New Y^ork apples cannot compare with ours in 

 richness and delicacy of flavor. So with plums, pears, cherries and 

 berries of all kinds. Our fruits compare favorably with those grown 

 anywhere in the country. 



In one very important particular we have much to learn in this 

 State, and that is how to handle and properly prepare and ship our 

 fruit to market. We can learn much from California in this direc- 

 tion, and can easily see why fruit that is inferior in quality will often 

 command a much better price and sell more readily than that of 

 better quality that is carelessly handled and packed, and even more 

 carelessly displayed in our markets and on our fruit stands. It is 

 surprising how handsomely a little care in this direction pays, and 

 how small a figure quality really cuts in the sale of fruit. People 

 want things to look well; be attractive to the eye. Our tastes in 

 that direction have greatly improved, and some of our growers 

 don't seem to know how much appearance has to do with helping to 

 sell. The masses among our fruit growers have not yet waked up 

 to this important point. In New England there is much more care 

 and taste displayed in this direction. Their fruit is carefully picked 

 and assorted. Apples are put into first, second and third grades, 

 and their second grade is sold in our markets at better prices than 

 our average grower gets for his best. There is with us great room 

 for improvement; room for increased crops, and need for greater 

 care in thp preparation of our fruit for markpt. Fruit from this 



