Proceedings of the Joint Winter Meeting. 



By special arrangement with the Secretary of the Maine Board of 

 Agriculture, the Executive Committee of the Maine State Pomologi- 

 cal Society perfected a programme for a joint winter meeting repre- 

 senting both organizations. At first there were some doubts as to the 

 desirability of the union, but the grand success achieved by the 

 meeting, fulh' justified the wisdom of the Executive Committee in 

 uniting with the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture in arranging 

 for the meeting. Our Society represents one of the most important 

 agricultural industries in the State, and it is a matter of special con- 

 gratulation that we ma}^ call the Board of Agriculture to our aid. 



A cordial invitation was extended to the Society by the citizens of 

 New Gloucester to hold the winter meeting in their beautiful Town 

 hall. In accordance with the invitation, the joint winter meeting 

 was held in New Gloucester, February 22, 23 and 24, 1888. 



Mr. J. W. True of New Gloucester, was chairman of the local 

 committee of arrangements, and under his direction the details were 

 carefully provided for. The citizens were generous and hospitable 

 to their numerous visitors, and were throughout enthusiastic attend- 

 ants upon the meetings. The public meetings were largely attended, 

 and the proceedings were more generally reported in the papers of 

 the State than any of our former meetings. It is well to note here 

 that this is a strong indication of the increased interest in fruit and 

 horticultural affairs in our State. 



FIRST DAY— FORENOON. 



The opening exercises were informal, the time being devoted to 

 arranging of the fruit tables, and other details connected with the 

 meetings. 



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