STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5 



most prominent fruit growers to make public their own preferences 

 after years of experience. Valuable information was gained, and 

 the results may be found on subsequent pages of the Transactions. 

 It will be found helpful to many people who are groping in dark- 

 ness at the present time. It was an unexpected pleasure to wel- 

 come among us Secretary Sessions of the Massachusetts State 

 Board cf Agriculture. His greetings to our people were most 

 cordial, showing that he was in sympathy with all engaged in the 

 pursuit of agriculture. Excellent vocal music was furnished by 

 Mr. A. R. Smiley. 



The executive committee decided to make their fall meeting more 

 than a matter of formal business as heretofore. By invitation of 

 the fruit growers of Winthrop, public meetings were accordingly 

 held in the Town Hall, Winthrop, October 26th. The afternoon 

 session was devoted to the consideration of the general subject of 

 orcharding, conducted by President Pope. The evening session 

 was devoted to the culture of small fruits, Willis A. Luce being 

 the principal speaker. Professor Munson, W. P. Atherton, the 

 Secretary and others took part in the discussions. The fruit 

 growers were invited to make an exhibition of their fruit, and a 

 fine display of fruit was arranged in the hall. Several ladies 

 brought in collections of flowers to adorn the tables, and they were 

 made very attractive to visitors. Excellent music was furnished 

 for the evening meeting under the direction of Charles E. Moore. 

 The executive committee desire at this time to express their full 

 appreciation of the cordial reception accorded to them and others 

 by the good people of Winthrop. 



For various reasons it was deemed advisable to hold the winter 

 meeting in the month of December. In this meeting as in recent 

 years we were joined by the State Board of Agriculture. The 

 papers presented were not as many as in former years, but the 

 character of the papers was excellent, and the opportunity for dis- 

 cussion was highly appreciated. By courtesy of Willis A. Luce, 

 an invitation was received from the officers and members of the North 

 Knox Agricultural Society to hold the meeting in Union. The 

 Town Hall was in readiness for the gathering, and at every point the 

 visitors were indebted to our members, Willis A. Luce and Alonzo 

 Butler and others of the beautiful town of Union, for many 

 courtesies and attentions. The town on the first afternoon and 

 evening of our meeting was nearly obscured by the whirling snow- 



