62 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



way or the other to contribute something to the success 

 of your very interesting meeting. 



I wish to say that I feel quite at home with you, as 

 we have a common interest in such an honorable and im- 

 portant business as fruit growing. Honorable, because 

 one's success must come through intelligent effort, and 

 our gain is no one's loss, but every dollar represented in 

 the products of an orchard or farm is a dollar added not 

 only to the wealth of the producer, but is a dollar added 

 to the wealth of his state, and becomes an asset of the 

 world at large. 



Fruit growing is also important because the produc- 

 tion of fruit not only is a means of supporting the produc- 

 er, but is at the same time the means of bringing some- 

 thing into existence which will be a factor in trade, and a 

 commodity for transportation, and what is still more im- 

 portant, and can well be appreciated at the present time, 

 is the means of bringing the producer into partnership 

 with nature, and therefore bringing forth something which 

 is at once a luxury and a healthful article of food, supply- 

 ing one of the necessities of man. 



Although our work may be hard and exacting, insects 

 numerous, and seasons bad, still there are many things that 

 are pleasant. 



But I must go at the task set for me, and explain how 

 I raise my apples. 



I wish to say right here that if I were to begin anew 

 some things I would do differently from what I have 

 done in the past. 



Let us begin with planting young trees. We should 

 procure as good ones as possible and give them room. 

 Good land should be selected, fairly well elevated, and of 

 slope sufficient to be well drained. The soil should be 

 cultivated and fertilized the year before the trees are set. 

 The ground should be freshly and well worked just before 

 trees are planted. Hoed crops can then be put in, but do 



