88 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



It was ni}' privilege to attend a Connecticut Pomological 

 meeting- four or five years ago — it is said comparisons are 

 odious, but, when favorable, are permissible under present 

 conditions, I feel certain. After attending the meeting to- 

 day and the banquet to-night and recalling the last meeting. 

 I can say truthfully that I have never seen greater g-fowth in 

 an educational institution^ in the same length of time, as I see 

 in this Society in the period which has elapsed since my last 

 visit. This banquet is one of the most delightful functions 

 that I have ever attended — barring the number of things I 

 was tempted to eat. The worthy director of your experiment 

 station made some references to New York. I can reply to 

 Professor Clinton's comments in this way : We grow more 

 apples and more flowers than any other State, except Califor- 

 nia — and we don't grow the citrous fruits — and more nursery 

 stock, I mean young trees, than any other State ; but we have 

 never had strictly fruit banquets, but perhaps we shall attain 

 to that when we strike our gait. It must have been Colling- 

 wood who gave you the idea of this banquet — I know he is 

 always preaching the gospel of apple eating. I said to your 

 Roastmaster that it was a pity to put apples like those I see 

 adorning these tables, in barrels ; that they ought to be packed 

 in boxes and they ought to be sold as Connecticut apples when 

 you compete with the fellow from the West. 



There are a great many questions about apple growing 

 which one can't answer. Success or failure, after all, depeads 

 on the man himself. One man can grow good apples and the 

 other man alongside does not grow good apples ; both using 

 the same soil, the same sky over both, the same sunshine beam- 

 ing upon them, the same rain falling on each. The men are 

 different. It is individuality. Personality counts in fruit 

 growing as in everything else. The personal equation is in 

 the last analysis the deciding factor. 



The question before the Connecticut people at this time 

 is how to extend, understand and take advantage of the pos- 

 sibilities of fruit growing in this State. I tell you, you must 

 grow the best fruit possible on your own land. That is the 

 best advertisement you can have. Let every one present here 



