6 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



carried out, with an excellent attendance, and the discussions 

 were instructive and interesting. 



Another institute meeting was held at Stratford March 

 31, through the courtesy of Housatonic Grange. Coming to 

 this section of the state for the first time, the Society was 

 welcomed heartily and well entertained. New members were 

 added and an increased interest in fruit culture among the 

 people of Fairfield county resulted from this successful institute. 



We would urge other granges and local organizations to 

 cooperate with the Society in holding these pleasant and prof- 

 itable one -day meetings. There is no better means of bring- 

 ing about a better appreciation of farm life and the pleasures 

 and profits of fruit-growing We have now on file invitations 

 from several granges, and hope to carry out five or six insti- 

 tutes this winter. We believe no better use can be made of 

 the state's money as given to the Society than in conducting 

 such meetings as these. 



The series of field meetings as planned for last summer 

 was somewhat handicapped by the serious drought that affected 

 most fruit crops. Many of our members expected to entertain 

 the Society, but few wanted to exhibit " drought -stricken " 

 farms. Messrs. A. E. Plant & Son, of Beauford, however, 

 had courage to invite the members to visit their farm June 19. 

 The large number of visitors found there were no apologies to 

 be made for this fine fruit farm, and all were loud in their praise 

 of the thrifty-looking fruit and vegetable gardens, the orchards, 

 and especially the extensive strawberry fields, for which latter 

 fruit Messrs. Plant have gained so enviable a reputation. All 

 felt well repaid for attending and expressed a desire to visit Bro- 

 ther Plant again at no very distant day. 



August 28 the Society met on the grounds of the State 

 Experiment Station at New Haven, nearly two hundred mem- 

 bers enjoying the hospitality of Director Jenkins and his staf¥ 

 of workers. Much of practical interest to the fruit-grower 

 was seen in the various departments of the Station, and after a 

 lunch a trip was made to the large vegetable and fruit farm of 

 the Atwater Brothers, near Cedar Hill. Here the discouraging 

 effects of dry weather were plainly to be seen; yet it taught a 

 valuable lesson in that the fruit farmer must be prepared to meet 



