220 STATE POMOLOGIOAL SOCIETY. 



The society was organized for a specific purpose. Has that been accom- 

 plished? I think that no one will claim that it has. 



Though much has been accomplished, in which not only every member of 

 the society, but every intelligent citizen of the State has just cause for pride ; 

 still we are only in our alphabet of what we ought to know and really mean to 

 learn. Secretary Thompson says, in an editorial in the Michigan Farmer, of 

 October 31st, last : " There seems to be a general impression that this society 

 has outgrown its swaddling clothes," etc. True, and it has exchanged them 

 for garments in which its best friends were not ashamed to have it seen at the 

 meeting of the American Pomological Society held at Chicago in 1875. 



Again it made a public appearance away from home, in 1876, at Philadelphia, 

 in competition with all kindred societies of North America, and it was declared 

 to be not only becomingly clothed, but that its clothing was of the best quality, 

 the latest style, and the finest texture. 



This was the unanimous verdict of nearly all of the thousauds who saw and 

 admired our centennial exhibit. This ought to be satisfactory evidence that it 

 is becomingly attired. Its age is less than seven years. Its achievements have 

 perhaps never been equaled by a society of its age. Why? Because it has con- 

 centrated its efforts in a direction in accordance with the tendency of the age, — 

 a specialty. 



Mr. President, when I consider the great achievements of our young Society ; 

 the honorable name it has won, at home and abroad, the thousands of dollars 

 that it has cost the people of the State, in money, and other thousands in 

 time, — more valuable than money to the enterprising fruit-growers, — when I 

 consider all these, I am astonished that any member that has taken an interest 

 in its welfare should be found willing to exchange the honorable name under 

 which we have accomplished so much, for one new to us, and without the pres- 

 tige of success. As far as I am able to judge, more than nine-tenths of those 

 engaged in pomological pursuits, are opposed to the proposed change. As proof 

 that this is true, I offer for your consideration a resolution, which, after a 

 thorough discussion, was passed unanimously. The resolution reads as follows : 



Resolved, That it is the sense of the South Haven Pomological Society that Article 

 I, of the State Pomological Society should not he altered or amended. 



There is one other point, to which I wish to call your particular attention. 

 It is assumed by those in favor of the change that Pomology is one division 

 of horticulture. This is very clearly and forcibly set forth in an editorial in 

 the Michigan Farmer of November 23d, 1875, as follows: 



"It is claimed that Pomological is not comprehensive enough to include all the 

 departments which the Society is obliged to recognize;" that "Pomology simply 

 includes and designates the science which treats of fruits, their culture, descrip- 

 tion, history anil improvement. This is correct." "Pomology is only one of the 

 divisions into which Horticulture is necessarily separated, for the convenience of 

 those who make it a study either practically or professionally." Those who first 

 formed the Society were influenced solely hy the desire to improve fruit culture in the 

 State, etc. "the Society however has outgrown its own limits." " Some propose that 

 the Society shall be called the 'Pomological and Horticultural' Society, but it will be 

 readily seen that the use of the word ' t'omological' would be simply an unnecessary 

 addition and ameie repetition. Horticulture includes all that refers to fruits, and is 

 of itself comprehensive enough.*' 



The foregoing are the views generally accepted by Horticultural Societies, without 

 a thorough investigation of the subject however, in our opinion, or they would arrive 

 at a very different conclusion. The legitimate use of words is to convey ideas; and 

 the word that will convey to the mind an idea in the clearest and most distinct man- 

 ner is the best word to use. 



