1897.] TRANSACTIONS. ll 



Winter Meetings. — The essays, so far as they were written, 

 are ah*eady in your hands, in print, and arc equal to those of 

 former years. 



We were unfortunate in not securing better reports of the 

 essays of Messrs. Ellsworth, Sawyer and Bailey, —each spoke 

 extemporaneously, having no manuscript. They were interesting 

 and instructive and should have been preserved entire, and I 

 would sugijest that the committee having the winter meetinsfs 

 in charge employ a stenographer, that all the essays may be 

 preserved, together with such suggestions as the discussion fol- 

 lowing may bring out. Many statements relative to the success 

 or failure of plant growth are presented in these discussions, 

 that, if preserved, would be of practical advantage to our 

 members. 



We have been pleased with the interest taken in this year's 

 series of meetings. The attendance has largely increased, and if 

 it continues the coming winter will make it necessary to use the 

 main hall, as the capacity of the Library was taxed to its utmost 

 to accommodate those present. 



Of the exhibitions held this year they have been far better 

 than usual. At our first exhil)ition, the show of apples was in 

 excess of anything heretofore shown. Over one hundred and 

 fifty plates were on our tables, embracing nearly every variety 

 grown in the country whose keeping qualities, unaided by the 

 improved methods of cold storage, were sufficient to carry them 

 through the season. 



The following month many of the same varieties were on 

 exhibition. There has never been a year when the exhibits 

 were of better quality, and there was a noticeable absence of 

 anything inferior in fruit, tiower or vegetable. 



At the date of the schedule for roses there were but four con- 

 tributors, owing entirely to the lateness of the season •, and by 

 the consent of those exhibiting, gratuities were awarded, and 

 the competition carried over to the next week, at which time one 

 of the best exhibitions of roses was held. Strawberries were 

 a little late this year but the showing was good. 



The show of peaches was unusually fine, and the quality of 



