THE CONNHCriCUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 13 



of $500 ill oiir ajipropriatioii. it was early decided to devote 

 most of this increase to extending- the institute work. Accord- 

 ing^ly, a special committee consisting- of Vice-President Putnam, 

 Treasurer Gilbert and Secretary Miles was appointed, with 

 instructi(Mis to lay out a plan of work for the season of 1905-06. 

 Early in the fall this committee prepared a schedule of pro- 

 posed institutes, covering- every county in the State, and out- 

 lined a plan for carrying out these meetings. This was sub- 

 mitted to the granges and other local org^anizations in the 

 various towns, and their cooperation invited; with the result 

 that some thirty ai)plications for institutes have been received, 

 and more are coming in constantly. Realizing the importance 

 of starting the work early, we began to hold meetings under 

 this plan in Noveiiiber. and, up to February ist, twelve insti- 

 tutes have so far been held ; the schedule calling for eight or 

 ten more before the end of the winter. The work has been 

 carefully systematized and planned in advance. Institutes are 

 as far as possible arranged in series of three or four each week 

 in towns near together, thoroughly advertised, with a con- 

 ductor from the Society, and for speakers the best men from 

 our State College and Experiment Stations, as well as prac- 

 tical fruit growers, poultry men, etc. Under this arrangement 

 all the meetings have been very successful and conducted eco- 

 nomically. The attendance in almost every case has been good, 

 the interest in the subjects under discussion lively, and every 

 indication that the work is appreciated as being- of great value 

 to the people of the State. 



While our farmers' institute work is still far from what it 

 should be, and some may question the propriety of the Pomo- 

 logical Society engaging in this field of work at all, yet under 

 present conditions here in Connecticut we are strongly of the 

 opinion that we can do no better than to continue this depart- 

 ment of our work and make it as attractive and helpful as the 

 means at our command will permit. 



Your Secretary attended the National Convention of Insti- 

 tute Workers in Washington last November, as one of the 

 delegates from this State, and is more firmly convinced than 

 ever that Connecticut has much to learn from her sister states 

 in institute work. P>etter system, a closer union of the organ- 



