Winter Meeting. 257 



The following letter was presented and read : 

 Office Mississippi Valley Apple Growers' Association, Quincy, 111., De- 

 cember 23, 1905. 

 Officers and Members of Missouri State Horticultural Society: 



Gentlemen — Availing myself of an opportunity of wishing you an 

 interesting, profitable, and in every sense of the term, a successful meet- 

 ing, I ask the indulgence of a few moments time in presenting a matter 

 which I think is fraught with very important interests to all apple grow- 

 ers and dealers, not only in your State, but to all who have any contact 

 with the apple industry in any part of the country. 



You will remember at the last World's Fair, held in St. Louis, that 

 the Apple Day feature was a very strong and successful attraction. Mis- 

 souri made many friends in all states by the prominent part she took in 

 this work. We think it has been wisely considered that it would be very 

 heneficial to the country at large to have National Apple Day as an an- 

 nual and perpetual institution. 



The movement in this direction took tangible form and shape at the 

 last annual meeting of the New York State Fruit Growers' Association, 

 held at Geneva. This society adopted the first resolution in favor of the 

 event, fixing upon the third Tuesday in October for the annual returning 

 date. The resolution was duly seconded by the Peninsula Horticultural 

 Society, which covers large districts in Maryland, Delaware and Vir- 

 ginia. 



Since the resolutions referred to were adopted, they have found their 

 echo and re-echo among numerous national, state, district and county 

 horticultural organizations all over the land. 



It would hardly seem necessary for me to point out the many ad- 

 vantages to be gained by observing this day. Incidentally I might say 

 that if the day was universally observed all over the country, it would 

 take at least a half million barrels of apples to meet the demands of the 

 occasion, and this certainly would be very helpful in the years of over- 

 production. 



One of the prime objects, however, in having the day is on the 

 account of its educational features. The failure of the apple crop has 

 been altogether too frequent in recent past years, and if there should 

 Idc a general concentration of thought and action all over the country 

 in observing a national event, it would hardly be possible to estimate the 

 great good that would be accomplished. 



The event had its day of small beginning last October, and is gen- 

 erally known back in New Hampshire. Children in cities were given 

 free trolley rides to the country to see the apple harvests and enjoy the 



H— 17 



