4 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



thing- settled in fruit growing-, it is that peaches can only be 

 successfully grown on hig-h ground — the higher the land, 

 other things being equal, the greater the chances of success. 



The unseasonably warm weather during the past month 

 of January was bad for peaches in sheltered places, as it 

 started the buds more than we like to see, but as it has not 

 been followed by extreme cold, we hope for a full crop in 

 most varieties. 



If we have a full crop, let us hope that the experience of 

 last season in regard to lack of baskets will not be repeated. 

 Baskets enough to handle the crop were ordered in time for 

 shipment, but strikes at the factories caused delays that were 

 very annoying- and much loss resulted. 



The annual meetings and exhibitions of this Society, with 

 the many institutes held in different parts of the state, are 

 having a great influence in raising- the standard of fruits 

 grown in Connecticut. 



The enthusiastic support and lively interest of our mem- 

 bers make our meetings successful and of great value to fruit 

 growers, and fruit consumers. Quality rather than quantit}' 

 has been our watchword in fruits. "Ben Davis" type of 

 fruits has but few friends at our meeting's. 



Let us each and all strive to make this meeting one of 

 great value, by paying- strict attention to what each speaker 

 has to oft'er and then trying to bring out, by questions prompt 

 and to the point, anything that is not perfectly clear to us. 

 Of necessity, all we can do is to present old questions in the 

 light of new experiences, but we find that there are many new 

 points being brought out, especially in relation to combating 

 diseases and insect pests. 



It is a remarkable fact that all our successful fruit-growers 

 are perfectly willing to give away the results of experiments 

 and methods of work that will help others to grow better 

 fruit and perhaps conqjete with them. 



There are two points to which I would like to call atten- 

 tion, which perhaps our legislative committee will consider: — 



First — Many of our members who grow fruit near cities, 

 villages and trolley lines, are troubled by fruit stealing. The 

 average city man or boy thinks it a joke to steal apples of 



