FRUITS AND FRUIT-CULTURE. 13 



Jill the other advantages she enjoys. Look at the public 

 buildings and grounds, — her antiquarian and free public 

 libraries, where anything in the shape of ancient or modern 

 literature is accessible to the public ; her technical institute 

 for free education in scientific or mechanical pursuits ; her 

 normal school for the preparation of teachers for our common 

 schools ; her insane asylum, where the mind diseased is min- 

 istered to and restored ; her mammoth manufactories for the 

 working of iron and wood and leather, and fitting material 

 into myriad forms promotive of human energy and enjoy- 

 ment. Such, in brief, is the Worcester of this centennial 

 year, the city in which you are to-day assembled. 



To her hospitalities we welcome you, gentlemen of the 

 Board of Agriculture. May the purpose of your coming be 

 accomplished in an outgoing and ingoing ratio, that while you 

 give us the words that shall proceed from the heart of a well- 

 developed experience, moving us to greater strivings after the 

 perfect of your ideal, you may feel the invisible and unspoken 

 pulsations of the "heart of the Commonwealth," by which 

 you are surrounded, moving you also to continued strivings 

 after those things which seem to you to be higher and better. 



Mayor Jillson, who had been expected to address the 

 meeting, being detained at home by illness, the Board, at 

 the conclusion of Mr. Hadwen's address, adjourned to two 

 o'clock. 



Afternoon Session. 



The Board was called to order soon after two o'clock by 

 Mr. O. B. Hadwen, who stated that the subject for consider- 

 ation was "Fruit and Fruit-Culture," the discussion of which 

 would be opened by Mr. T. S. Gold, Secretary of the Con- 

 necticut State Board of Agriculture. 



FRUIT AND FRUIT-CULTURE. 



BY T. S. GOLD. 



You will be disappointed if you expect from me an account 

 of any new or startling discoveries in fruit-culture ; but still it 

 may be profitable for us to spend an hour in reviewing this 

 old and familiar subject, perchance to root out some old 



