ANNUAL REPORT. 191 



and inspect some of the best orchards in the state ; to meet 

 and discuss ways and means of handling- the prospective crop, 

 and to bring- the growers and buyers of the fruit tog^ether for 

 mutual business arrang-ements. Doubtless all these aims were 

 realized, for the gathering was an entire success. The attend- 

 ance was large, about 300 growers, buyers, commission men 

 and railroad officials were present. 



On arrival in Wallingford, 'busses were taken for a trip 

 to the orchards of Z. P. Beach, J. A. Martin, W. A. Henry 

 & Son and others on the west side of the town. 



At noon, lunch was served in the Grange Hall, after which 

 the company met for a brief period of speaking and discussion. 



The meeting was called to order by President Eddy and 

 Mr. J. H. Hale was invited to preside. Selectman M. E. 

 Cooke gave a cordial address of welcome. The next speaker 

 was Mr. W. H. Blodgett, a fruit dealer of Worcester, Mass., 

 and who is Mayor of that city. Prof. W. A. Henry of the 

 Wisconsin Agricultural College was called and responded 

 with an excellent address. Prof. Henry, who has recently 

 purchased a farm in Connecticut where he intends to grow 

 fruit, paid a high tribute to the advantages of New England 

 as a place to live and carry on farming. He urged farmers 

 to awaken to their possibilities and cooperate to secure the 

 full fruits of their labor. Mr. A. F. Currier, in charge of 

 car service on the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. system, was invited 

 to address the meeting. He told what his road would do to 

 help the growers move their fruit and of the special cars that 

 w^ould be fitted up for the peach trade. Mr. Currier was 

 thoroughly questioned and much of value to the growers was 

 learned. 



The census of the state, to ascertain the probable size of 

 the peach crop, which had just been completed by the Society, 

 was reported on and its features discussed. It was stated that 

 with favorable weather conditions not far from a lialf million 

 baskets of peaches would be harvested in the state this season. 

 Many of the growers present reported the crop from a week 

 to ten days late in ripening. 



Other speakers who addressed the meeting and congratu- 

 lated the growers on the peach outlook and the necessity for 



