Reading of Letters. 97 



Orleans, and rejoice with you in the wonderful progress of American Pomology in 

 our own day. It is a glorious cause. Let it go on prospering and to prosper, and 

 generations yet unborn shall rise up and bless the memory of those like yourself 

 and others of our pioneers who are, one and all, doing so much for its advance- 

 ment. Yours, as ever, Makshaxl P. Wilder. 



Now, my friends, I will give you a letter from one of the found- 

 ers of this Society, who was unable to leave his beautiful home on 

 the bluffs of the Ohio to come to this meeting, on account of the 

 deluge which filled the Ohio valley. As our first letter was signed 

 by the greatest name in America or the world's pomology, so this 

 one bears the most honored signature in our Western horticulture, 

 and in the great movement for American forestry — that of Dr. 



Warder, of Ohio. 



North Bend, Ohio, February 18, 188.3. 



Parker Earle, Esq., Mr. Prcndent and Dear Friends : 



As apprehended, so has it eventuated. The pleasure of joining you and your 

 confreres at New Orleans this week must be one of the unrealized anticipations, 

 after having been so long looked forward to as a charming release from the grip 

 of winter. The floods, almost Noachian, have confined us to our hill-tops, whence, 

 as from Ararat, we could survey the waste of waters, as two mighty seas on either 

 hand, Ohio and Miami, dash their angry waves toward our eminence and cut off 

 communication with the world. For eight days our mails have been suspended, 

 the railway trains are abandoned, and I know not when this may reach you, if 

 ever, or its predecessor, written on receipt of your kind card of last week; nor am I 

 informed as to the others, who were to have started to-morrow, probably via Cin- 

 cinnati Southern Railway, having heard nothing, but apprehend the party will be 

 small, so great has been the derangement of travel. For an oldish person, no 

 longer strong, the journey at this season would have been hazardous, but be pleased, 

 for yourself and your worthy associates, to accept the best wishes for your success. 

 With sincere regrets on account of his absence, 



From your and their earnest friend, 



Jno. a. Warder. 



Let him hear soon of your success. 



Mr. Earle continued : And here I have a letter from an old 

 friend — Robert Manning, of Boston — whose handwriting, in the 

 absence of his genial face, I am glad to see. Mr. Manning is, as 

 you know, one of the most learned pomologists in this country. 

 He was many years Secretary of the American Pomological Society, 

 and is now Secretary of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 

 which is, I believe, the model horticultural society of the conti- 

 nent. Here is Mr. Manning's letter: 



