No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxv 



the main hall. They showed to better advantage than the 

 barrels, though the fruit packed in the barrels was fully 

 equal to that shown in boxes, proving conclusively that the 

 box is the best package for the grower to use, and the coming 

 fruit package in New England as well as the west. 



It would have been impossible to have held this show 

 if it had not been for the support tendered it by the Board 

 of Agriculture and the agricultural societies represented 

 thereon. Their generous contributions have been mentioned 

 in another place in this report. They were fully appre- 

 ciated by the officers of the Fruit Show, and I have been 

 asked to express their gratitude to yon members who rep- 

 resent the societies. 



The generous space which the Boston press gave to the 

 reports of the show were also very gratifying. One very 

 pleasant feature of the week was a complimentary dinner 

 tendered to the officers of the Fruit Show, the members of 

 the Board of Agriculture and the exhibitors at the show by 

 the Boston Chamber of Commerce. It was an extremely in- 

 teresting occasion, and one that will long be remembered 

 by those in attendance. It marked also the awakening of this 

 organization to the possibility of their working for the ad- 

 vancement of agriculture, and to their duty along this line. 

 That much good will come of their active participation is 

 assured. 



I have been asked to estimate the value of the Fruit Show 

 to N'ew England, and have set it at not less than $1,000,000. 

 That is not an extravagant estimate. The advance it gave 

 to apple growing — an industry for which we are peculiarly 

 well situated and our soils well fitted — was not all of the 

 advantage derived. At the same time it showed that an up- 

 to-date, progressive Xew Englander could beat the westerner 

 at his own game, in agriculture at least, and must have a 

 far-reaching effect on the outlook of every person who at- 

 tended the show. 



The ISTew Englaxd Corn Exposition. 

 The people interested in corn growing in l^ew England 

 wished to hold a show last year, but very generously gave 

 the right of way to the Fruit Show, which was first in the 



