20 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



those directly interested. At the same time we trust that others 

 may find entertainment and pleasure in this meeting, and give 

 us the encouragement and support of their presence at these 

 sessions. 



"Give fools their gold, and knaves their power ; 



Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall ; 



Who sows a field, or trains a flower, 



Or plants a tree, is more than all." 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 By President W. Craig, Auburn. 



It is not my intention to take up much of your time with any 

 extended address, but simply to point out a few necessary and 

 specific requirements, emphasizing the lines upon which we 

 must direct our attention in order to increase the usefulness of 

 our society, and derive such benefits from the same as we would 

 naturally expect. 



As yet we are only a miniature form of a state society. 

 Much credit is due those who have nurtured and guided our 

 Pomological Society to its present state of efficiency ; but chang- 

 ing conditions and the natural progressive evolution of the times 

 demand more from us individually as well as from the society 

 collectively. 



Our members are increasing, but not as rapidly as we would 

 expect, and I feel like joining with the poet in saying, "God 

 give us men. A time like this demands strong minds, great 

 hearts, true faith and ready hands." Oh ! for a few Marshall 

 P. Wilders, who would be willing to devote their time and 

 money towards raising our standards and enlarging our sphere 

 of usefulnesss. We as a society cannot maintain efficient use- 

 fulness without continued effort to improve. You cannot 

 balance a standing bicycle without either advancing or receding, 

 so it is in our horticultural efforts as well as in our lives. We 

 as a Pomological Institution should be an up-to-date missionary 

 society, as it were. Its members and officers especially should 

 be enthusiastic, well informed leaders, ready to go out at the 

 call of our sister society, the Grange (with whom a closer 



