EXPLANATORY NOTE 



SINCE the formation of our Society in 1891, it has 

 been the desire of its officers to preserve, in printed 

 form, a record of the Society's doings, which have had so 

 strong and helpful an influence on the development of 

 Connecticut's fruit interests. 



In its early years the organization was more or less of 

 an experiment, with a paying membership none too large 

 to cover the cost of the annual meetings, printing, etc.; 

 therefore, the Secretary's records were not kept with the 

 idea of publishing an annual report. Even had they been 

 so kept, it would not seem wise to publish them now 

 after so many years have elapsed, during which we have 

 obtained later and more complete information upon many 

 of the subjects discussed in the earlier meetings. Now, 

 however, with our treasury strengthened by a small appro- 

 priation granted by the last General Assembly of the 

 state, it has seemed best, in this closing year of the 

 century, to make a brief historical record of our work 

 since the date of organization, and to include some of 

 the valuable addresses and discussions of the annual meet- 

 ings of i8g8 and 1899. Hereafter, it is the Society's in- 

 tention to issue annually a complete record of the year's 

 transactions. 



Neither the Secretary nor President Hale, who has 

 rendered valuable assistance in the preparation of this 

 book, claim any literary merit for the work, having aimed 



(iii) 



