No. ?. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 107 



Llirowing aside all prejudice, 1 know of no State where conditions of 

 soil and climate are more favorable than in Pennsj^lvania. We have 

 lowlands, hillsides, high mountains, hilltops and plateaus where 

 are grown every variety of fruits and crops known to the temperate 

 zone. 



Yours is a historic town, and it is known to everyone who has 

 read the early history of our State as "Fort Duquesne," or Fort 

 Pitt. 'Here one of the English generals lost his life. Your greatness 

 depends upon your varied and extensive manufactures. You are the 

 "Birmingham of America" and you have great markets here that 

 should be supplied from the surrounding country. Again, Mr. 

 Mayor, I trust you will accept our thanks for your cordial weicomie. 



MINUTES. 



The Secretary read the minutes of the last annual meeting which 

 were approved. 



The President announced that everyone interested in agricul- 

 ture, horticulture or the objects of our society will be welcomed 

 as members. The fee of annual membership is one dollar; life mem- 

 bership, ten dollars. \Ve have ihe promise of Secretary Hamilton 

 that the reports of our proceedings will be printed by the State, and 

 every member will be entitled to a copy. These reports usually have 

 ilkis^trations of the new and valuable fruits of Pennsylvania origin, 

 I have recently looked up the records and found that 253 varieties 

 of apples originated in this State. 



After a short recess to enable those Avishing to become members 

 to enroll their names, business was resumed and Treasurer Moon 

 read the following list of those who desired to be enrolled as mem- 

 bers : 



LIFE MEMBERS. 

 Charles T. Chase. S. Mendelson Meehan. 



ANNUAL MEMBERS. 



William Adams. J. W. Fleming. 



J. W. Allison. W. P. Fergus. 



W. R. Barnhart. Frederick Fink. 



Wm. Bockstoce. C. A. Foster. 



E. L. Boyd. Wm. J. Fryer. 



W. H. Briggs. H. C. Gearing. 



J. S. Burns. C. W. Good. 



M. Carnahan. L. C. Harris. 



M. N. Clark. H. H. Harnish. 



R. A. Collins. J. E. Handf nshield. 



H. W. Comfort. S. B. Heiges. 



John Dickson. Daniel D. Kerr. 



M. C. Dunlevy. .John Hirsohinger. 



