1897.] ANNUAL REUNION. 59 



two men carrying a large bunch of grapes on their shoulders. I 

 stamped it upon my letter-heads. A party out in Illinois sent for a 

 circular of the "Green Mt. Grape." I got a letter back from him 

 and he said, " What a lie ! no one ever grew such a bunch of grapes 

 as that in the world." I am taking up too much of your time. I am 

 glad to be with you, and I hope I may have the opportunity to be with 

 you again. 



Mk. Parker. — Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, I 

 believe, are the three oldest societies in this country ; the Rhode Island 

 Society is represented here to-night by its Secretary, Mr. C. VV. 

 Smith. 



Mr. Smitu. Ladies and Gentlemen: — I wish simply to express my 

 acknowledgment of our Society to you. This, I think, is the fourth 

 time that I have had the pleasure of meeting with you ; each seems 

 to be a greater pleasure, and when the invitation came to me for to- 

 night I did not feel able to resist it. I had three other invitations for 

 banquets, but I chose this one, and for this reason I am with you 

 to-night, it must be because you gave so good a lunch. I remember 

 reading the humorous works of " Josiah Allen's Wife." One of the 

 quaint sayings which she made I was so pleased with that I put it on 

 paper (reads), "I will have good victuals as long as I am Josiah 

 Allen's wife." I regret the absence of the Secretary, who has gone 

 to his reward. It is especially a feeling of sorrow to me, although 

 not as well acquainted with him as some of you ; it leaves me second 

 oldest Secretary of the Horticultural Societies of New England. I 

 thank you, Mr. President, for your kind invitation to be with you 

 to-night. 



Mr. Parker. — There are two or three representatives of the Massa- 

 chusetts Society here to-night. I am going to call on H. W. Wilson 

 as orator of the evening. 



H. W. Wilson. Mr. President : — I think it is an unexpected honor. 

 I have been enjoying the good time, and I feel a little embarrassed, for 

 I don't hardly know where to begin. I might allude to one or two 

 topics ; take the grape, the grapes of Eschol and Syria are the largest 

 grapes raised. Some bunches weigh from five to six pounds. There was 

 a bunch raised in England which weighed nine and one-half pounds. 

 At Boston a bunch was exhibited which was raised in this State and 

 weighed eight pounds and twelve ounces. The Syrian grape is raised 

 today, and bunches raised under glass have been known to weigh 

 twenty pounds. I do not know but what I have lost the thread of 



