VARIOUS NATIONAL SOCIETIES. 123 



its size and its great vitality, it is likely to become a formidable foe if it gets 

 as wide a range as the other vine worms. 



Trusting that you will have a pleasant session, I remain sincerely yours, 



John H. Blakeley. 



P. S. — The trying weather of the past week is likely to reduce the crop of 

 berries below the estimates made earlier in the month. I have heard of rot in 

 some sections, but am not in extensive communication with growers, so am not 

 well posted on the subject. 



Communications were also read from M. H. Walker, Esq., of Green Bay, 

 Wisconsin; George Maxwell, Esq., of Bockville, Conn. ; Daniel Bound, Esq., 

 of Norfolk, Mass. ; S. H. Comings, Esq., St. Joe, Mich.; C. G. Bockwood, Esq., 

 Newark, N. J.; Cyrus Cahoon, Esq., Pleasant Lake, Mass.; J. A. Osgood, 

 Esq., Dorcester, Mass., and George J. Miller, Esq., Hyannis, Mass., which 

 were ordered placed on file. 



The standard measure committee made no report. 



The committee on foreign trade made a verbal report through the chairman, 

 N. B. French, Esq. He reviewed the history of the organization and progress 

 of the work of the Fruit Growers' Trade Company, of New Jersey, through 

 which most of the work in this direction had been done. Acting under a 

 special charter obtained from the State of New Jersey — one of the last of the 

 kind granted, and containing most liberal provisions for the furtherance of 

 its object, the introduction of cranberries into foreign markets — considering 

 the limited amount of stock taken by growers in this enterprise, the work of 

 the company had been productive of good results. 



The company had persevered, under continued and repeated losses, amount- 

 ing oftentimes to their entire capital, until they had been able, during the 

 last two years, not only to recover their losses, but to pay a fair dividend on 

 the investment. 



Following this report was a general discussion on the subject of foreign 

 trade, and the extension of the market, which was participated in by Messrs. 

 Deacon, Aumack, Pruden, Brown, Skinner, Bogers (of the New England 

 Homestead), the Secretary, and others. 



The Secretary suggested that a general combination of growers might be 

 formed, and a governing committee, consisting of one member from each 

 cranberry-growing district, be selected, who should have power to levy an 

 assessment of a certain per cent of the crop, for sale and distribution in foreign 

 countiies. Let them be sold, or distributed gratuitously, as circumstances 

 might direct, so that sufficient was gotten for them to cover expenses; and 

 should there be a surplus, divide it pro rata. He thought this could be accom- 

 plished in a business-like way, by an agreement between individual growers and 

 some competent contracting party. 



To Dr. Goodell was due the suggestion that the Fruit Growers' Trade Com- 

 pany, having their established channels of trade, and being parties competent 

 in law to make contracts, would be the organization through which this highly 

 essential work might be accomplished. 



The report of N. B. French, Statistician of the Association, was then read, 

 of which the following is an abstract: 



At the convention of Aug 28, 1885, my report stated that, in response to 

 about nine hundred official crop inquiries, one hundred and thirty-two replies 

 had been received, most of which complied with the prescribed form, in giving 

 the crop of 1884 in contrast with the estimated crop then on the vines. 



