JUNE MEETING, 1877. 79 



we come to divide its iiltiinatc proceeds, giving to the soil sufficient to increase 

 its fertility. 



To the troos and fruit due care, 



To the cultivators a fair share. 



To the insects and heiUies their stealings, 



llegaiHl for coniniission men's feelings 



To whom the fruit is sent 



And sold for a liberal per cent. 



To the baskets, boxes, and crates 



Add warehouse charges and freights. 



For twine and tarletan save a little, 



AVith the usual amount of incidental. 



With home's frequent call. 



Through summer and fall. 



For the remainder have a care. 



For that is our ''profits" share. 



To make this remainder as large as possible is one of the very desirable results 

 of all our additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions. 



Having been over the four ground rules, our experience has taught us that 

 in this, as in other pursuits, eternal vigilance is the price of victory. The 

 changing of seasons, fritits and markets, and the numerous enemies of fruits 

 and trees require us to be constantly on the alert. We need each one's knowl- 

 edge and experience, and so these gatherings are essential that we may learn 

 more and more of these things which insure success in this important industry. 



We feel that your presence and interest will re-assure our people that the 

 mistakes which may be related here will call out their remedies, that successes 

 will bring with them the truth they come from care, forethought, and patient 

 industry, and so spur us on to renewed efforts to lessen the one and increase the 

 other. 



We need these gatherings for mutual encouragement, especially in times like 

 these, when so many put on long faces and repeat with a variety of changes 

 that it is "hard times," and in their solitude tliink their lot peculiarly unfor- 

 tunate. It is well to have this interchange of experience to remind us that 

 each has his ups and downs. We require this social communion of thought that 

 we may learn new ways and means, and catch some of the inspiration of the 

 more hopeful, thus resisting us to appreciate the grand fact there is more sun- 

 shine than cloudy weather, more day than night, more prosperity than adver- 

 sity. We want to brood less over tlie book of lamentations, and study more 

 diligently those encouraging lessons so abundantly found in the good Book of 

 life, recalling the teachings of the vineyard, and remembering the reward of the 

 thrifty husbandman who improved his spring time in sowing the good seed, his 

 summer in weeding out the tares and cultivating his crops that the fall might 

 bring him a plentiful harvest of the fruits of his toil for winter's enjoyment. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, we again welcome you to our midst, and trust the 

 hospitality and courtesy of our people will be such as to make your stay pleas- 

 ant, and, that each and all will glean from this meeting some gem of experi- 

 ence which, transplanted in practice to their own homes and business, will 

 make the time spent here of profit to them. 



As the years run on, if any of you should again visit us, we trust you may 

 see substantial evidence that we have profited by this meeting, and we also 

 hope, at its conclusion, as you depart for your several homes that you can truly 

 say "It has been good to meet here together." 



