The first institute of the 1911-12 season was held at 

 "West Springfield, Grange Hall, December 6th. Prof. A. J. 

 Norman on Pruning was followed by Prof. F, C. Sears on 

 Orchard Management. After dinner by West Springfield 

 Grange, Vice President Frost spoke on Spraying, and the 

 meeting adjourned to the farm of Ex-Treas. Ethan Brooks 

 where a pruning demonstration was given by Prof. Norman. 



On Thursday, January 25, 1912 at Ashby, the 2nd insti- 

 tute was held ; the members from a distance used automo- 

 biles to get from Fitchburg. Wilfred Wheeler, Concord, 

 spoke on Small Fruit Culture at the morning session, and 

 A. J. Norman, Amherst, on Orchard Diseases, after a dinner 

 by Ashby Grange. 



At Great Barrington, February 13th, Dr. George M. 

 Twitchell of Maine, spoke on An Old Orchard Reclaimed, 

 and at the afternoon session II. S. Frost spoke on Spray- 

 ing. This was the first Fruit Growers institute held in 

 Berkshire County so many new members were obtained. 



At Colerain, FeTjruary 16th, Dr. Twitchell spoke on 

 Profits in Orcharding, and after dinner by the Woman's Re- 

 lief Corps, John W. Clark of North Hadley spoke on What 

 to do with our Apple Orchards. 



At North Andover, February 28th, many new members 

 were obtained wlien Vice President Frost spoke on Spray- 

 ing, and Prof. Jarvis of Storrs, Conn., spoke on Orchard 

 Renovation. 



The institutes have been successful in that they have 

 been largely attended by interested people, and many new 

 members have joined the Association. 



Field Meetings 



The seasons' field meetings began June 17th, with the 

 strawberry meeting, when the members only, met at the 

 farm of Wilfred Wheeler, and a most profitable and en- 

 joyable afternoon session was held. Another meeting, for 

 members only, was held at Littleton, August 5th at the 

 Drew- Munson Fruit Farm. The idea of keeping the invi- 

 tations within the membership was to impress upon outsid- 

 ers the advantages of becoming members. Messrs. Wheeler, 

 Frost and Munson showed the members every courtesy, as 

 did those who entertained at the other meetings, 



•; August 10th found us at the peach orchards of Mr. Mun- 

 Eoe Morse Medway for the early peach meeting. Mr. L, W. 



