34 state; pomological society. 



tives of the press for the work which they have put into this 

 meeting. I say this at the opening of the meeting because they 

 have done everything that we have asked them to, and they have 

 even done a great deal more to call the attention of the public 

 to this meeting, and to them we owe much for the success of this 

 occasion. And I am sure, sir, that with the united efforts of 

 your board of trade and your people here, we shall have one of 

 the grandest and most successful meetings that has ever been 

 held in the State, and I am sure we shall go from Auburn feel- 

 ing happy over our visit and grateful to you and your people 

 for your very cordial hospitality. 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 By Z. A. Gilbert, President, North Greene. 



Another year of experience in the fruit garden and orchard 

 has brought us together again in annual convention, and with it 

 lays the formality of an opening address from your president. 

 A knowledge of fruit growing in all its relations is not a simple 

 acquirement. There is always something more just ahead — a 

 little further on — that invites attention, a knowledge of which 

 will give its possessor better command of the situation. So 

 whatever knowledge the individual or an association may 

 acquire they never can reach a point where they will "know it 

 all." Study and investigation must ever continue. 



In approaching the fruit industry from the standpoint of busi- 

 ness success we at once run up against two great factors or divi- 

 sions of the industry, namely, production and selling. From this 

 standpoint while production is first in order it is certainly of no 

 more importance than is the sale of its products after produced. 

 It is the sale that brings compensation. In the opening of the 

 annual convention one year ago it was there claimed that in our 

 public exercises, and in our individual attention to the business, 

 we have been giving more of study and more of attention to pro- 

 duction than to the disposal of the fruits of our efforts after they 

 were in our possession. The situation is not yet essentially 

 changed. There is still a call, a necessity, in fact, for greater 



