Public Meetings. 



Thursday evening, September Hth, in Park Hall, Lewistou, a 

 convention of Maine fruit growers followed the election of officers. 

 There was a good attendance, though the hall and its surroundings 

 are ill-adapted to such gatherings. We have the idea that the time 

 has now arrived that the people of Maine would be rejoiced to 

 know that the scope of the agricultural fair was extended so as to 

 return, if you please, to the custom of former days, so that along 

 with sight-seeing, the horse trot and the meeting of friends, there 

 may be an intellectual feast in waiting for those who maj'^ wish to 

 enjoy it. With this in view and a suitable place in which to gather, 

 meetings for the discussion of rural and domestic affairs, would be 

 largely attended. A few popular speakers under the auspices of 

 the various agricultural organizations would attract to the ground 

 many visitors who now stay at home. Let us inroduce among our 

 attractions all the intellectual and moral elements possible. In this 

 way we may hope to purify all the surroundings of the fair, and 

 win to our support many who are now indifferent. We would hold 

 these meetings during the day as well as evening, and by making 

 them attractive manj' would be glad to attend them. 



The general subject for this meeting was '-Small Fruits in 

 Maine." It was introduced by President Pope with a talk on iheir 

 culture, and followed up by Willis A. Luce of South Union on 

 their profits, and by S. H. Dawes of Harrison, on the difficulties of 

 small fruit culture. Discussions followed, in which many joined. 

 Messrs. Smiley of Skowhegan, and G. Parker of Newport furnished 

 excellent music for the occasion. 



Just twenty years ago the first meeting of our society gathered 

 in the city of Augusta, since which time more of our winter meet- 

 ings have been held there ; a. fine collection of winter apples were 

 in readiness for exhibition by Messrs. Brown and Andrews, the 

 best ever shown in the State ; it was determined to ask the legis- 



