TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. 7 



Our own Society, besides having- charge of the state 

 exhibit, staged a splendid display of its own (which was the 

 gem of the entire show), and w^hich was awarded a special 

 silver medal. 



Naturally, in such an extensive show^ as this, embracing 

 all New England, our growers ran up against some fierce 

 competition, and their weak, as well as strong points, became 

 apparent. But in this way we all benefit educationally, and 

 dull indeed must be the man who does not become a better 

 grower by participating in such exhibitions. 



These New England Fruit Shows are revealing, as 

 nothing else has ever done, the wonderful possibilities that lie 

 within the reach of every New England cultivator of the 

 soil. 



Institute Work. 



During the past year our Society participated in the 

 Farmers' Institute work of the state, as in former years, sup- 

 plying speakers on fruit culture for many such meetings., 

 The six Institutes conducted directly by the Society were 

 held in co-operation with local granges as follows : East 

 Haddam, Februar)^ 17; Bristol, March 3; Woodbridge, Alarch 

 10; Griswold, March 14; Milford. March 21; New Canaan, 

 March 23. All were largely attended, and successful. 



In connection with the Agricultural College, a large 

 number of demonstration institutes were carried out last 

 spring in orchards in difi:erent sections of the state. This 

 campaign for teaching better methods of reclaiming old or- 

 chards and handling young trees is producing excellent re- 

 sults. The work of pruning, spraying, etc., as actually de- 

 monstrated by Mr. Jarvis and his assistants before the eyes 

 of the audience make valuable object lessons, and this w-ork 

 is encouraging better care of orchards all over the state. No 

 more beneficial line of work was ever undertaken for the 

 fruit growers and it is hoped that the series of orchard meet- 

 ings can be improved and extended this coming spring. 



