FIELD MEETINGS IN 1900 



CONTINUING the important feature of summer gather- 

 ings on the farms of the members, the Society enjoyed 

 two outings in igoo, the first during the strawberry sea- 

 son at A. E. Plant Sc Son's farm in Branford, and another later 

 on in the summer at the State Experiment Station in New 

 Haven. Other invitations would have been given, but for the 

 fact that the extremely dry season affected fruit crops to such an 

 extent as to make a poor showing on most farms. 



Strawberry Meeting at 'Branford y 

 June IQ, IQOO 



RESPONDING to a cordial invitation from Messrs. A. E. 

 Plant & Son to visit their extensive fruit farm, nearly 

 two hundred members of the Society and other guests 

 spent a most enjoyable day at Branford. 



The visitors filled a special car attached to the early morning 

 train from New Haven, and by special arrangement stopped at 

 Mr. Plant's largest berry field, located some distance west of 

 Branford and near the railroad. After examining these six acres 

 of splendid fruit, from which several thousand quarts were being 

 shipped daily to Boston, the party took teams for the Plant 

 homestead, pleasantly situated in the village of Branford. The 

 pleasant social chat and exchange of views among the visitors, 

 always the most enjoyable part of these gatherings, was inter- 

 rupted all too soon by the call to the dining tables, which were 

 tastefully arranged under canvas on the lawn and were loaded 

 with the good things provided by the hostess and other ladies 

 of the Society, luscious strawberries forming a prominent part of 

 the feast. After dinner impromptu speeches were in order, 

 President J. H. Merriman presiding. Mr. Plant welcomed the 

 company and gave a brief account of his fruit-growing and the 



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