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the founders of our Association, our first president lies at 

 the point of death in this city. It would seem fitting and 

 proper that some action be taken at this meeting to show 

 our appreciation of his help and our sorrow at his absence 

 from our midst. 



While Massachusetts is preeminently a manufacturing 

 and commercial state yet her agriculture and horticulture 

 are by no means insignificant. Our Society should have 500 

 members and could, if each member would bring one new 

 member with him at our next meeting. Consider yourself 

 a committee of one to increase the membership ; go forth 

 into the highways and the byways like a good evangelist 

 and compel your neighbor farmer and fruit grower to join 

 us. It has been suggested that we ask aid from the State and 

 that we deserve it as much as many qf the incorporated ag- 

 ricultural societies. It would seem that our age and activity 

 Avould warrant recognition by State authorities, surely the 

 horticultural interests of Massachusetts are of great import- 

 ance and fruit growing should be encouraged within her 

 borders. Could we receive such substantial aid as does our 

 sister state of wooden nutmeg fame, the land of steady hab- 

 its, then our future would be assured. The past year has 

 been one of profit and success to most fruit growers in this 

 state so far as I can learn yet we have our troubles and to 

 some it would seem that they are increasing rather than 

 "diminishing. The insects and fungus diseases continue to 

 thrive and multiply, much to our annoyance. Gypsy and 

 brown tail moth, San Jose scale, plum rot, peach yellows 

 and pear psylla, apple scab and the smallpox of our bald- 

 win keep us guessing as to the size of our probable profit 

 or loss on our venture. The severity of the past winter 

 has doubtless killed nearly, if not quite, all the peach buds 

 in Massachusetts, still the few we do have this year will 

 very likely bring much higher prices than usual. And then 

 ^another trouble, some may not consider it a trouble, but a 

 help. I refer to the proposed legislation in regard to grad- 

 ing, packing and marking our fruit, particularly apples. 

 While I do not mean to say that all who raise fruit are 

 absolutely honest in the way they pack and mark it yet I 

 maintain that there are fewer dishonest men among the 

 farmers and fruit growers than in almost any other kind 

 of business. The matter will be discussed here to-morrow 

 morning and I will not anticipate. The meeting is yours to 



