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ited, aud the methods of construction, ventilation and heating were 

 especially inspected. The grounds about these buildings, planted 

 with a very large and complete collection of the more choice orna- 

 mental trees and shrubs, were also examined. The farm depart- 

 ment, including the new and spacious barn, was visited, as was 

 also the experiment station, with its laboratories and experiment 

 plots, after which the meeting adjourned, the members expressing 

 themselves as having passed an unusually pleasant and profitable 

 day. 



The first annual meeting of the association was held at the hall 

 of the Worcester Horticultural Society, March 12 aud 13, 1896. 



Thursday — Morning Session. 



The meeting was called to order by President Draper, who 

 called on O. B. Hadwen to give the address of welcome. The 

 reports of the secretary, treasurer and auditor were presented and 

 accepted. It was voted that standing committees on nominations, 

 legislation, new fruits and membership be formed. 



After these preliminary exercises were disposed of, the first 

 topic for discussion was taken from the question list. 



First Question : Apple orcharding, — will it pay to increase plant- 

 ing of the apple, and, if so, what sorts? — The discussion took a 

 wide range, all agreeing that there was as much profit in apple 

 growing as in any crop grown. Mr. E. W. Wood considered the 

 Baldwin the most profitable variety, but it is losing its vigor, and 

 we must cast about for something to take its place. Mr. Hartwell 

 considered the Gravenstein the most profitable apple, his method 

 of harvesting being to let the apples fall on a mulch of hay, and 

 market them in bushel boxes, selling for Si to Si. .50 per box. 

 Mr. Hadwen would not plant Gravensteins on heavy soil ; they 

 need some sand in the soil. Other varieties of promise mentioned 

 were Mcintosh Red, Sutton Beauty, Palmer Greening, Ben Davis, 

 King, AVagner, etc. The Ben Davis was reported as the longest- 

 keeping red apple, and profitable, but of poor quality ; and the 

 King as very uncertain on the thin soils of Massachusetts. 



Second Question : The European market for apples, green or 

 evaporated. — No one present had had experience with canned or 

 evaporated fruit, but all agreed that well-packed good fruit would 

 sell for paying prices if shipped to Europe. Mr. J. Eames would 

 have the apples packed as far as possible from the boiler of the 

 steamer in which they are shipped, in many cases reported the 

 apples stowed near the boiler having come out in a much decayed 

 and injured condition. Careful picking, sorting and close packing 

 are absolutely necessary to success. 



