1912-13] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 11 



*'The apples of New England," he said, ''are what the people 

 want. They are of a better quality, and have a better flavor 

 than the others, and they will improve if some of the methods 

 of the West are adopted in their production. 



''Massachusetts is the best place in which to live, and next 

 to that, I will always add — Worcester. We have the best roads. 

 Massachusetts was the pioneer of good roads. Other states 

 are spending millions of dollars trying to keep up with us, in 

 that respect. We have the best schools, the best agricultural 

 college. At present, there is a farmers' week being held in 

 Amherst, with some seven hundred people in attendance at 

 the present time. This will, no doubt, be of great benefit to 

 the farmers." 



Harold L. Frost, Arlington, elected President of Massachu- 

 setts Fruit Growers Association, was the next speaker. In 

 behalf of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association, he 

 thanked the Horticultural Society for the many courtesies 

 extended his association, and also for fostering it. 



Harry W. Smith, of Grafton, called to the minds of those pre- 

 sent, the early presidents of the society. Presidents Hadwen, 

 Davis, Earle, Salisbury, and Lincoln, all were subject to 

 humorous remarks from Mr. Smith. He spoke of President 

 Bullock, whose yard was planted with a number of fine trees, 

 which he (Mr. Smith) was fond of climbing; and of President 

 Burnside, whose back yard was planted with strawberries, the 

 best of which he never got. Mr. Smith recalled with pleasure 

 the fact that, in that alcove of what is now the dining hall, he 

 received his first blue ribbon for tumbler pigeons. He said he 

 always advocated the idea of giving blue riboons. 



Prof. B. S. Pickett, of Durham, N. H., brought greetings from 

 that state. He said that out West, where he originally came 

 from, there were two Eastern societies which were looked up to 

 with much interest and respect: they are the Worcester County 

 Horticultural Society, and the Massachusetts Society. 



Wilfred Wheeler, of Concord, extended hearty greetings and 

 congratulations to the society from the Massachusetts Society; 



