Report of Committee on Nomenclature. 155 



W. H. Ragan, Esq.: Newbdkg, N. Y., July 26, 1884. 



Dear Sir — Please accept my cordial thanks for a copy of the Transactions^of 

 the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society for 1884. I have been very much 

 interested and instructed with contents of the volume, and, if generally read and 

 practiced by the people, would be of great benefit to the State and the country. 



I have just received your card relating to the doings of the Society and enclose 

 you $2, and will thank you to send me the volume for 1885, although it is very 

 uncertain if I live to see it. My back was injured by cars in New York 

 City, some eighteen months since, so that I have but little use of it, and can only 

 walk a few rods at a time, and as the spine is affected, the prospect is not encour- 

 aging. 



With best wishes for your health and welfare, 



I am, very respectfully, Charles Downing. 



W. H. PMgan, Esq.: Newburg, N. Y., August 4, 1884. 



Dear Sir — Your kind letter of the 30th came in due time. I am thankful for 

 your kind expressions as to my health and welfare, and, also, for what little I 

 have done in the cause of pomology. * •'" * 



I am surprised to hear that there is a want of energy among horticulturists of 

 means to help on the good work of the Association. I would be glad to assist, but 

 my means are limited and only sufficient to meet my yearly expenses. Wishing 

 you good health, a long, useful and happy life, 



I am, very truly, yours, Charles Downing. 



P. S. — The Tennessee people are praising the Kagan's Yellow Apple. Do you 

 know anything about its origin, etc., or is it some old variety with a new name? 



Mr. Lyon, of Michigan, for the Committee on Nomenclature, re- 

 ported the following: 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NOMENCLATURE. 



To Hon. Parker Earle, Chief of Department of Horticulture, and President of the American 

 Horticultural Society : 



Sir — The undersigued judges in the Department of Horticulture of the New 

 Orleans Exposition, charged with the duty of correcting the nomenclature of the 

 fruits on exhibition in Horticultural Hall, have found the time, prior to the 

 action of the awarding committees, quite inadequate to the full and proper per- 

 formance of this duty. 



It is not clear to us that a report of our doings in this matter is either needful 

 or expected. 



The Society, however, which you represent as President, is understood to be, at 

 least constructively, in charge of the exhibit ; and, since the result of our observa- 

 tions and experiences, in the performance of this duty, may prove useful, in its 

 recently assumed position as an American Society, we respectfully submit the fol- 

 lowing report, with suggestions, for its consideration. 



It seems to us important that awards be made only upon specimens entered for 



