TlVENTY-FIRSr ANNUAL MEETING. 245 



a mistake, because as I look around this room and see this 

 large assemblage, I realize that you are looking- for some man 

 who has the time to take care of the business of this Society. 

 You naturally expect a great deal of your officers, and I am 

 not sure that I can do all that you expect. However, in con- 

 senting to attempt to perform the duties devolving on one 

 occupying this place I agree to do the best I can. I shall 

 be obliged to rely on the co-operation of the members and 

 the members of the different committees. 



If the President will pardon me just a moment, I would 

 like to take a moment of your time to refer back to the time 

 when a small number of the fruit growers, the nucleus of this 

 Society, got together in a small room in the Capitol, and 

 talked over fruit-growing matters. That meeting resulted 

 in the formation of a committee to consider various matters 

 that were up at that time, and later it resulted in the for- 

 mation of the Connecticut Pomological Society. At that time 

 there were but few of us in number, although we lacked 

 nothing in enthusiasm. When we come to look over and 

 consider the number that we now have as members of this 

 Society, we can see what a great progress has been made 

 in enthusiasm and interest in fruit growing in Connecticut. 

 I think this is in the right direction, and as it should be. We 

 are in a fair way to make further progress. 



I thank you, gentlemen, one and all. 



M;R. J. H. Hale : Just a word to supplement the re- 

 marks of your newly-elected President. As one of the sev- 

 enteen members that were at that meeting with Air. Barnes, 

 when we organized this Society, I am glad to be here to-day 

 and to see him elected President of this splendid Societv of 

 more than seven hundred members. As I remember the talk 

 at that time, when it came to a question of providing the 

 sinews of war, he was about the first man to put up and ask 

 the rest to put up. I want to say to all you who have enjoyed 

 this splendid meeting, and to any of the members that have 

 not, that we all want to stand together and help back up Mr. 



