148 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Xo extra urging- was needed to secure the presence of a large 

 company of fruit men, their wives and friends ; upwards of 350 

 were in attendance, nearly all the New England States and Xew 

 York being represented by leading growers, who came to observe 

 and profit by a visit to the Hale Farm, which is perhaps the 

 most unique establishment of the kind in the country ; and 

 after enjoying Mr. Hale's warm hospitality and absorbing some 

 of his enthusiasm, it is safe to say none went away disappointed. 



The morning hours were spent in looking over the extensive 

 peach and plum orchards and nurseries on the home farm, also 

 the more distant clearings located on the higher ground where 

 many rough fields have been subdued at heavy expense and 

 planted to peaches with, so far, most excellent results. All 

 agreed that only the courage of a man with faith in the 

 fruit business and the possibilities of the Connecticut soil, could 

 have carried through to success so large and difficult an opera- 

 tion. 



While many of the orchards were not presenting their usual 

 fine appearance on account of the peculiar season's very unfavor- 

 able conditions and the light crop of fruit, 3^et the lessons to be 

 learned were fully as helpful as in a year of full crops and most 

 favorable circumstances. 



At noon all gathered on the spacious lawn, where a basket 

 picnic lunch was enjoyed and the informal talk and discussion, 

 alwa3's so pleasant a feature of these open-air meetings, was 

 not lacking. 



After dinner President Gulley called the assemblage to order, 

 and introduced the host, Mr. J. H. Hale. Mr. Hale made one 

 of his always enjoyable speeches, welcoming the visitors and 

 referring to his orchard work of the season. He explained 

 the special methods necessary to overcome the peculiar condi- 

 tions of excessive moisture and why the orchards were found in 

 clover sod rather than clean culture. The work of cutting 

 back old trees to make new and vigorous ones was explained. 

 Black knot in his plum orchard is becoming a serious ques- 

 tion. What shall we do for this trouble as well as the shot- 

 hole fungus and the leaf curl? 



Many questions were put to ]\Ir. Hale concerning the new 

 clearings for orchard sites, and what the future treatment of 

 these trees is goinsr to be. 



