secretary's budget. 455 



successful fruit culture in each district, and correct information in re- 

 .gard to the extent and progress of fruit culture in each section of our 

 •country, and are published under the supervision of the chairman of 

 the general fruit committee of our society, and contain a vast fund of 

 information not elsewhere to be found. The reports constitute a mine 

 of pomological wealth, and contain not only ail the modifications and 

 changes which may have been made in collecting information concern- 

 ing the culture of fruits, but also in the naming of them, synonyms by 

 which they are known ; the most desirable varieties being designated 

 in our catalogue by stars, according to their several merits. 



The American Pomological Society has performeed an immense 

 labor through its meetings and its committees, in correcting confusion, 

 and it is wonderful to contrast the early condition of pomology with its 

 present mature state. Its future labor will be continuous and of vital 

 moment in introducing new and valuable varieties; and what will be 

 of the greatest importance, maintaining an accurate nomenclature. It 

 ■will inform fruit growers in every State and Territory what fruits they 

 are to look to for successful culture. But most important of all, its busi- 

 ness will be to give to American pomology a high character as a sci- 

 ence ; to prevent the appearance of mere money making, and petty 

 attempts to impart undue prominence to new favorite and laudatory 

 names. The continued aim of the society will be to mamtain a posi- 

 tion of dignity, integrity and impartial usefulness. The special aim 

 of the society should be to enlist in its active membership all the best 

 -elements of our country, and to form, as far as possible, a closer rela- 

 tion with all existing State pomological and fruit growers' societies. 



Let us have no more names of generals, colonels, captains, presi- 

 dents, governors, monarchs, kings or princes, mammoths or Tom 

 Thumbs, or such titles as Nonsuch, Seeknofurther, Ne-plus-ultra, Hog- 

 pen, Sheep-nose, Big Bob, Iron Clad, Legal Tender, Sucker State, or 

 Stump the World. These were suggestions made in my last address 

 to which I still adhere and from which I have nothing to take back. 

 The terms Pearmain, Pippin, Beurre, Doyenne, Bon Chretien, etc., ap- 

 plied to apples and pears, once described classes of fruit which are 

 now so confused and blended that the names have lost their signifi- 

 cance. The cases are very few where a single word will not form a 

 better name for a fruit than two or more. These reforms have been 

 adopted in the catalogue of the American Pomological Society, and 

 •other prominent horticultural and pomological societies have voted to 

 adopt the improved nomenclature, and I desire to ask the co-operation 

 of all pomological and horcultural societies in this and other countries 

 in carrying out this important reform. 



