46 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



selling them yourself, and also that at the end of the season 

 you will have more money by so doing. 



You people here in the State of Connecticut have a 

 great chance to raise fruit and do well at the business. 

 Your soil is right for apples, peaches, plums, strawberries 

 and many kinds of small fruit, easy to cultivate, and plenty 

 of chances to get help to do the cultivating. There is 

 money in the peach business for you, and I must say that 

 one of the finest — if not the finest — car of peaches we ever 

 handled came from the orchard of your President, Mr. 

 Hale, here in Connecticut, and what he raises I know 

 others can, providing they do as he has done. Strawber- 

 ries are, I think, one of the most profitable crops a man can 

 raise. I know there is work about it; but you vi^ill get good 

 pay for all the work you put on your strawberry patch, 

 whether it be one acre or ten. There is always a good 

 market for good strawberries, and you need not be afraid 

 of raising too many. You are right here between several 

 markets, all of which you can reach in a few hours. Then 

 there is always a good market for currants, raspberries, 

 blackberries, etc., all of which can be made a profitable 

 crop by proper care and attention. 



But I will not take your time further. And my advice 

 to you Connecticut fruit men is. Spread out; see what you 

 can do ; and in a few years you will not only surprise us 

 commission men by the amount of fruit you raise, but you 

 will surprise yourselves, also. 



Now, I have given you quite a talk on the fruit busi- 

 ness, and if it has been a little one-sided — on the commis- 

 sion merchant's part — I know you will excuse me, as you 

 all know I am a commission merchant myself. But I can 

 assure you I have only said what I think is correct. After 

 you have followed my advice in all that I have said here 

 to-day, I am very sure that you will make a success of the 

 fruit business, and that after you have been in it for a few 

 years you will have a good bank account to your credit and 

 plenty of money in your pockets to jingle. 



I thank you all for your kind attention, and if there are 

 any questions you wish to ask me, I shall be pleased to 

 answer them to the best of my ability. 



