SIXTEHXTH .LyXUAL MEETING. 21 



our exhibit, and the great interest they manifested to make it a 

 success. The weather, while fine, embraced two of the hottest 

 (lays of the season, rendering- it difhcnlt to keep tlie display in 

 good order. 



The location of the fair was somewhat out of the center for 

 a majority of our members. This, with the light crop of 

 apples the past season, made the total display somewhat smaller 

 tlian usual. However, the number of plates of peaches dis- 

 pla\ed far exceeded that of any previous year. 



The entries from some of our generally largest exhibitors 

 were very conspicuous by their total absence. Yet while some 

 of the old timers were not present with their fruit, several new 

 men came in to partially fill the vacancy. To judge from these 

 first elTorts, the veterans will have to look sharply to their 

 laurels to hold their lead when these new men get familiar 

 with the business. There were nearly one thousand plates on 

 the tables, embracing the usual variety displayed at our fairs, 

 also a fine show of canned fruits, and an exhibit of fruits in 

 packages which exceeded that of any previous year. 



The exhibit as a whole, while not as large as some previous 

 ones, was a revelation to many in the eastern part of the state, 

 who had no idea that such displa}-s could be gathered in Con- 

 necticut. It certainl}- had the effect of interesting many in 

 the work of this society who knew nothing about it before. 



Prof. Gulley, li\-ing nearby, was able to be on the spot to 

 see to all of the details. He brought with him several of the 

 students of the Agricultural College to assist in arranging and 

 classifying the fruit, which they did with great credit. 



To those in charge of these exhibitions, the most satis- 

 factory point is the evident improvement in the quality each 

 vear. Marks of insects and diseased spots are less common, 

 while the correctness of names has much improved over the 

 earlier exhibits of this society. We also think the practise of 

 holding these exhibitions in various parts of the st^te. enabling 

 more people to see them, is the proper course, even if the}- are 

 sometimes held out of the centers of population and some ex- 

 hibitors put to additional labor to be present. Others w-ill be 

 brought in and the people of the state as a whole get a better 

 idea of the possibilities of the fruit industr}- in Connecticut. 



