38 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



character of institutes for imparting pomological knowledg-e to 

 those who avail themselves of the opportunity to be present. By 

 this we do not mean that those who conduct the meetings are 

 professors of pomology and come here prepared to teach it in all 

 its branches. We come here for the purpose of interchanging 

 ideas ; and while we act our part as best we are able, we expect 

 to draw information from the experience of those who are present, 

 and send it out to those who are searching for knowledge in the 

 direction in which we are working. Thus you become the teach- 

 ers, and we are only the medium through which the knowledge 

 you possess is imparted to others. Much good may go out from 

 such a meeting as this, and it is hoped the attendance at this time 

 will be such as to give a high character to the deliberations. 



We occasionally find an individual so void of everything but 

 selfishness — so hedged up in his own narrow limits, that he can 

 see no good results growing out of efforts made to encourage 

 progress in any direction. Should such an individual ask what 

 we have done, we can only cite him to our records. Our annual 

 reports are a record of the work of the Society. We make no 

 claims for brilliant achievements. We are planting the tree of 

 knowledge in the faith that in due time it will bring forth fruit. 



Our fruit list is a safe guide for those seeking information in 

 regard to the most desirable varieties to plant. It contains in an 

 available form the experience of practical fruit growers. No 

 variety is there recommended which has not proved worthy of 

 recommendation. There may be new varieties of great value 

 which are not entered in the list. When they have been proved 

 worthy of it, by the test of experience, they will be inserted. 



Arrangements have been made to have a list of fruits for ama- 

 teur growers prepared and presented to this meeting for the ap- 

 proval of the Society. Gross mistakes have been made by those 

 who would grow a few select varieties for use in their own fami- 

 lies. With but a small tract of land to devote to a fruit garden, 

 they have no room to waste on inferior varieties. Without ex- 

 perience to guide them, it is not strange that alter years of watch- 

 ful care many of them find their ground encumbered with such as 

 they do not want. With a list prepared by those who are familiar 

 with the difi'erent varieties of fruit, and carefully revised by the 

 Society, those seeking information have a safe guide to follow. 



Gentlemen, fellow-members, there is still much work which may 

 be done. The Society, if its members are earnest and faithful. 



