STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 25 



I desire to waft my heartiest congratulations to your annual 

 meeting and exhibition, hoping both will be highly successful, 

 not only very profitable to all in attendance, but that the light 

 of information gained on the occasion may be radiated to the 

 advantage of fruit growers in all parts of your state. 



It can not be claimed that I appear as a guest unbidden to your 

 feast of good things, as through the courtesy of your secretary 

 I received an invitation to the meeting, and have only the sin- 

 cerest regrets that circumstances over which I have no control 

 prevent my attendance. I beg your indulgence, however, in 

 submitting a proposition by letter, which I am prevented from 

 presenting in person, relating to my favorite topic National 

 Apple Day. It has not been quite three years since this move- 

 ment was placed before the people, but in that short while it has 

 made its force felt in all of the apple producing regions in the 

 country. California, which was inclined to make light of the 

 measure at the start, having witnessed its good effect, has 

 imitated the measure by starting a National Orange Day, to be 

 observed on the ist day of March each year. 



The reception given to National Apple Day in the New Eng- 

 land States has been most gratifying. There has been an intelli- 

 gent spirit manifested towards the event there, which has made 

 me feel quite proud of the honor of having been born in New 

 England. !My object in addressing you at the present time is to 

 ascertain if you have taken formal action in placing it on record 

 that you heartily approved of the third Tuesday in October to 

 be observed annually and perpetually as National Apple Day. 



So far as I have learned, all of the New England States, with 

 perhaps the exception of Maine, have taken this formal action 

 through their horticultural societies and kindred organizations, 

 and possibly your state may have done so. If, perchance, you 

 have not, we of the Middle West, and other parts of the Union, 

 who have taken the stand referred to, would be greatly obliged 

 if you would adopt a simple resolution of having the third Tues- 

 day in October observed annually and perpetually as National 

 Apple Day. It is to be hoped that during the coming year we 

 can have the day placed on the calendar to be generally observed. 

 It is not necessary to say that there is not the slightest intention 

 of making a new holiday, the purpose being to have the day as 

 an occasion for concentrated thought and action all over the 



