SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 193 



the courage of most fruit grt)\vers. To Mr. Hale must be 

 given the credit of blazing the way in this line of work, as he 

 has in other fruit growing methods. 



In one of the pleasant shady spots the company halted for 

 lunch, wdiich was strictly a basket-picnic afifair, according to/ 

 the program. ( )f necessity, no tables could be spread and all! 

 the usual formalities were dispensed with. While this was a 

 departure from our usual custom, yet all present enjoyed the 

 dinner hour and. best of all, the dinner entailed no burden on 

 the host, which is so often llie case^ in these big held meet- 

 ings. 



After lunch the company asseml:>led about a huge rock 

 which made an ideal speaker's platform, and an informal 

 meeting was held, presided over by President J- H. Putnam of 

 the Society. Mr. Hale was first called upon and heartily 

 welcomed the visitors. Mr. Hale gave a history of the orchard 

 work and told what he hoped to accomplish on this rough 

 woodland, as rough and unpromising as any in the State. 

 Said he was glad to have us come and see the work, and 

 would welcome the praise or criticism of his guests. 



Air. H. W'. Collingwood of New York, Editor of The 

 "Rural New-Yorker, was the next speaker on the program, and 

 in a very interesting address made some practical observations 

 on Mr. Hale's work. 



He said some men take from the land and leave nothing, 

 but Brother Hale has realized the possibilities of these old 

 hills and is making them worth more each year. Get trees of 

 some sort growing on these hill-tops and leave something of 

 value for posterity. There is a great deal more than mere 

 money-making in this undertaking. Such work will have its 

 influence on the future of this country. Apples and peaches 

 will crown these hills in I'uture years and be the glory of New 

 England. 



Mucii of this work would not be possible without the help 

 of the foreigner. In this case it has been the Italian who has 

 supplied the muscle and we should be thankful that such help 

 is available. Mr. Collingwood predicted that apples would 



