30 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ligence present. And perhaps the greatest, the highest avoca- 

 tions of Hfe open to us along these Hnes, and we trust that we 

 n.iay be able mutually to profit by this Association. We cer- 

 tainly appreciate the fact that to us will be brought new ideas ; 

 truth will be given to us which we never have appreciated 

 before. Thank you for it. And to such hospitalities as we 

 have, we welcome you gladly, realizing that we are the ones 

 that receive the benefit, not you. • 



RESPONSE. 

 By Proe. W. M. Munson. 



It is with the greatest of pleasure that I respond to the ver)' 

 cordial words of welcome which have been extended to us. It 

 is an honor to me, as a member of this Society, to be chosen as 

 its mouth-piece. I consider it as a special honor because of 

 the standing of the Society, because of what the Society repre- 

 sents. 



As Mr. Blanchard has just indicated, the Society stands for 

 education; it stands for the motive to which personally I have 

 devoted my life; and for that reason I take a double interest 

 in it, responding not only in behalf of the Society, but in my 

 own behalf and in behalf of the institution with which it is my 

 fortune to be connected. For all of the agencies of the State 

 which tend to better the condition of agricultural workers are 

 and should be working together. The Pomological Society, the 

 University, the State Commissioner of Agriculture with his 

 numerous helpers, and the agricultural press of the State all 

 combine to elevate Maine's agricultural conditions, combine to 

 bring before the people of the world the fact that right here 

 in New England we have conditions which are adapted specially 

 to certain phases of agricultural work. And not the least 

 important of those phases is that which is represented by the 

 Maine State Pomological Society. 



Now what does this Maine State Pomological Society stand 

 for? We have already said it stands for education. It also 

 stands for the great fruit interest of the State. But it stands 

 for more. It stands for better men and women. It stands for 



