9 



•and I trust that efforts will be made to obtain it. The 

 •other New England Fruit Associations have regular appro- 

 priations from their states, besides special appropriations 

 for the N. E. Fruit Show which we decidedly should have. 

 Your Secretary received notice from Secretary Ells- 

 worth of the State Board of Agriculture to attend the hear- 

 ing at the State House on the bill for the ten year close 

 season on deer. The weight of the arguments both in num- 

 bers and force was opposed to the bill and in favor of keep- 

 ing the present law on the statute books. 



DATE OF AA^NUAL MEETING 



Many find the date of our annual meeting inconvenient 

 for various causes and the suggestion has been made that 

 the time be changed to the third Wednesday in January, 

 which date does not eontlict with the outside State Fruit 

 Growers' meetings, which is a matter to be considered in 

 obtaining out of state speakers for our meeting as well as 

 the attendance of our own prominent members. This date 

 would allow the results of the preceding season's work and 

 experiments to be thoroughly digested and written up after 

 the rush is over, and at the same time allow the report of 

 the meeting to be printed and placed in the hands of each 

 member in time for use the coming season. With our chang- 

 ing methods, and npw sprays, each year sees decided improv- 

 ments which should be placed before our members at once. 



Through the kindness and generosity of the Worcester 

 County Horticultural Society it may be possible to obtain 

 the free use of the hall for this date, as has been their help- 

 ful custom in the past. In conferring unofficially with the 

 officers of the Society this seems to be the general sentiment. 



In connection with changing the date of the meeting, it 

 has been suggested that this will afford an opportunity for 

 the Fruit Growers' as an Association to hold a banquet of 

 their own, as it is well known that the hospitality of the 

 Horticultural Society is at present taxed to the limit to 

 provide room for their own members and the invited guests 

 of our Association at their baac.uet which occurs at the 

 time of our present annual session. 



Many members complain that in an early spring, the 

 meeting now comes at a time when they should be at home 

 keeping ahead of the work. We all know how last spring 

 even those who were ahead found difficulty in finishing their 



