ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



By President W. Craig, Auburn, 

 Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Once again the busy growing season has gone by and we. 

 The Pine Tree State Apple Growers, have come together for 

 renewed acquaintance and to vie with each other in good natured 

 rivalry for the highest honors. All day smiles should cover our 

 faces, for although our crops were jeopardized by hail, drought 

 and storm, nearly all those who had a care for the orchard were 

 rewarded with a bountiful harvest; such is the natural law of 

 compensation. 



Some may plead that this was their "off year," but let me 

 tell you now that (barring extremes in weather conditions) if 

 you are up-to-date in your methods there will be no off year. 



In looking over our past reports you will find that this society 

 has been doing good work and advocating better methods for 

 over a quarter of a century, and it is well to stop and ask our- 

 selves in plain English : "Are we as a people deriving suffi- 

 cient benefit for the outlay, or in horticultural terms, has our 

 pomological tree been fruitful and yielded up an annual crop 

 of useful inspiration?" 



Is our fruit grown, handled and packed better than twenty 

 years ago? Are we getting more money from our orchards? 

 If not, why? Does the*trouble not lie with us individually in 

 neglecting to put into practice the good things we learn at meet- 

 ings of this kind? Are we not prone to applaud the lecturer 

 who advances new ideas and say that it is "fine," but to go home 

 and do much of our work in the same old way. 



The valuable programme in store for us at this meeting will 

 prove to be a guidepost towards greater achievements, and may 

 I ask you in good Episcopal terms to "read, mark, learn and 



