86 Mississippi Valley Horticulfural Society. 



in quantity, and with table qualities and beauty of appearance of the highest 

 character on the cold and dry plains of frigid Russia, then who shall place a 

 limit upon the pomological harvests to be gathered throughout our vast 

 northwestern domain when once it has been planted with the proper races 

 of fruits ? I certainly feel that to the men whose genius shall make success- 

 ful orcharding jDossible over these immense plains, will belong not only gen- 

 erous earthly rewards, but the nobler harvests of imperishable honors. 

 At our last meeting I called your attention to the subject of the 



TARIFF ON FOREIGN FRUITS, 



A movement for the abolition of which was inaugurated by this Society at 

 its Chicago meeting. I am glad to be able to report to you that Congress at 

 its last session, among its other revenue changes, adopted the policy sug- 

 gested by our Society, and abolished the duty on all fruits except those of a 

 semi-tropical character. I think we may congratulate ourselves and the fruit 

 commerce of the country upon this eas}'' deliverance from a burdensome and 

 useless tax. We have relieved the fruit importing trade with the British 

 provinces of a harrassing and costly burden. Very few changes in the na- 

 tional laws aflfecting a large interest have been effected by so small an ex- 

 penditure of efibrt. 



You are aware that this Society was organized at St. Louis, in September, 

 1880, in connection with and upon the occasion of holding a great and useful 

 exhibition of fruits. There was many among us who felt then, and feel now, 

 that properly classified fruit exhibitions are not only extremely valuable to 

 the pomologist, but an important educator of the public taste. It was the 

 purpose of this Society then to continue to hold such exhibitions as suitable 

 opportunities should occur; but for one re;xson and another a proper occa- 

 sion has never, until now, Ijeen fcnuid. The holding of such exhibitions as 

 this Society should make, if it undertakes the matter at all, necessarily costs 

 several thousand dollars. We had no money as a Society to risk in such a 

 venture, and we have not been able to believe that such a show made inde- 

 pendently of other attractions would pay its cost. We have had negotiations 

 with several fair associations and expositions, but have not found among them 

 a sufficient appreciation of the value of such an exhibition as we felt able to 

 make. But during the past autumn application was made to mo ])y the 

 board of managers of the 



world's industrial exposition, 



To be held in New Orleans next winter, to arrange on the part of this Soci- 

 ety for the hokling of a winter horticultural exhibition on a large scale. I 

 corresponded with members of our executive committee, and received their 

 authority to make definite arrangements with the exposition management. 

 It being inexpedient to posti)one the making of plans until after the holding 

 of this meeting, I have clo.sed a delinite negotiation with those gentlemen 

 for the holding of a fruit exhibition under their auspices, but under our 



