PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION 



OF THE 



FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION 



OF 



ADAMS COUNTY, PA. 



The Fifth Annual Convention of the Fruit Growers' Associa- 

 tion of Adams County was called to order by Chester J. Tyson, act- 

 ing chairman, at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 15, 1909, in 

 Fruit Growers' Hall, Bendersville, Pa. 



The convention was opened with prayer by the Rev. B. P. S. 

 Busey. 



Mr. Tyson. I regret very much to announce that our Presi- 

 dent, Mr. Eldon, is prevented from attending the opening session 

 by a very severe cold. We hope to have him with us later and his 

 annual address will appear in our ''Proceedings" just as if he were 

 here. 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



ROBERT M. EI.DON. 



The announcement of the Fruit Growers' Association of Adams 

 County states that this is to be the fifth annual convention. If 

 habits are fixed by the repetition of actions, I have a notion that we 

 are acquiring the convention habit. However, we are not pioneers in 

 this respect. The newspapers are full of the announcements of con- 

 ventions of all kinds. 



Before our ancestors became individually independent, and ver- 

 itable ambidexterous jacks of all trades, they belonged to some cor- 

 poration, following from father to son and grandson some definite 

 occupation or trade. A man was born, lived and died a carpenter, a 

 weaver, or a mason. And now after a period of strenuous activity 

 as individuals, we are swinging back towards that former way. 

 Not to follow our father's trade, but to follow one trade. We do 

 not expect to lose the desire or right to choose what we shall do, but 



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