174 STATE POMOI.OGICAL SOCIETY. 



organization that have contributed to this grand result. The 

 first of all is the cordial invitation and the cordial reception 

 which came from your board of trade here and the citizens of 

 Gardiner. The first time I came here after the committee was 

 chosen, the chairman of the board of trade, represented by your 

 mayor, said to me "Tell us just what you want and we will do 

 it." Well, now, that was a beautiful sentiment, and that seems 

 to be the sentiment that has actuated all the local movements 

 here from the beginning. What we have wanted them to do 

 they have done. Yes, they have done more than that, and to 

 them we owe a special debt of gratitude as a society for what 

 we are doing and what we are accomplishing here at this 

 meeting. 



Then there is another factor which I wish to speak of because 

 it is one of the most potent factors in the State in promoting the 

 very business which this Society is working for, and that is the 

 hearty, whole-souled co-operation and assistance which the press 

 has given us from the first. I am glad that so many representa- 

 tives of the press have been here. I only wish that I could have 

 devoted a little more attention to them. 



Another thing which has contributed very much to the success 

 of this meeting came about through a meeting which was held 

 in the city of Worcester. I won't attempt to tell you what that 

 meeting was called for, but it was a meeting at which were 

 assembled representatives of all the horticultural societies in the 

 New England States. It occurred to me while I was there that 

 if a meeting of that kind could be held down here in the State 

 of Maine with us, that it would be one of the finest things we 

 ever had, and so in behalf of the Society I took the liberty of 

 inviting the various societies there represented to send delegates 

 down here, not so much to help us as to bring the fruit interests 

 of the societies into harmonious touch and action. A hearty 

 response came and we have with us here today or have had with 

 us at our meetings, the representatives of all the societies except 

 two. One delegate was chosen to be here and expected to be 

 but sickness in his family kept him at home. I am well pleased 

 with having these representatives here. 



Now there are one or two other things along this same line. 

 Yes, there are two — I will try and not forget one while I am 



