SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 107 



fully carried out in the exercises of the evenint;-, to the sat- 

 isfaction and pleasure of all present. 



Mr. J. H. Hale, the chairman of the evening, called 

 the meeting to order at 7.30, and welcomed those present 

 in behalf of the Society. He explained that the leading 

 topic of the session would be, "Encouraging the Use of 

 l->uits of High Quality," and that the important subject of 

 "Quality in Fruits" was to be considered from the stand- 

 l)oint of both the grower and the consumer. He said he 

 was glad to see so many of our city friends present, and 

 hoped that this efTort of the Society to bring the consumers 

 and growers of fruit into closer relations would be pro- 

 ductive of mutual pleasure and profit. 



"We need," said Mr. Hale, "to get in closer touch with 

 you, to learn your wants and also to educate you, as well 

 as ourselves, as to what constitutes fruit of the highest 

 quality. We believe the consumer to-day wants fruits of 

 the best quality a.nd is willing to pay what they are worth, 

 and it should be our business, as growers, to supply such 

 high-grade products, rather than the poorer second-grade 

 fruit with which the markets are too often filled." 



Mr. Hale announced that at the conclusion of the 

 speaking, the audience would be invited to test the samples 

 of fruit that had been provided, and compare the different 

 varieties as to their quality. 



The first address of the evening was then given by Mr. 

 Hale, on "Quality from the Grower's Standpoint." 



" Quality From the Grower's Standpoint. " 



By Mu. J. H. Hale. 



The first thing is money. That we must have to ])ay for 

 our labor and fertilizers and all the other things that come 

 in. We have been producing, and probably for a long time 

 shall keep on producing the fruit which the markets will take 

 and pay for at the highest price. We must produce something 

 that the market demands. The man who tries to educate the 



