INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



The present report is submitted as a statement of the more 

 important matters connected with the organization of the Society, 

 and its first year's operations. It does not claim to be a record 

 of successes achieved, nor of great progress, nor even an exposi- 

 tion of the fruit-growing interest of the State ; but simply of the 

 " beginnings " of the Society, and of its efforts to organize and 

 develop that interest. If it shall be found to contain little of 

 practical value, it will more fully exhibit the need of such a work 

 as the Society proposes to do. 



The Executive Committee entered upon their duties with many 

 misgivings, — the work assigned them was ney and the year was 

 one of discouragement to fruit growers. Their aim has been to 

 establish the Society upon a permanent basis and demonstrate its 

 utility. The measure of success which has rewarded their efforts 

 is due to the active co-operation of the members and the generous 

 encouragement of the people of the State. 



My personal acknowledgments are due to my associates for the 

 uniformly kind assistance which has lightened the otherwise labori- 

 ous duties of my position ; to the gentlemen who have furnished 

 valuable historical memoranda for these pages, and to the Secre- 

 tary of the Board of Agriculture for his kind forbearance i»allow- 

 ing me to delay the completion of this report so as to embrace the 

 proceedings of the Winter Meeting, as well as for many useful 

 suggestions in relation to its preparation and arrangement. 



GEO. B. SAWYER, Secretary. 



WiscAssET, February 15, 18T4. 



