310 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



On motion, the finance committee were empowered to select unci purchase 

 the articles mentioned in the above resolution. 

 Adjourned. 



CHAS. W. GARFIELD, 



Secretary. 



Tuesday Evening. 



Promptly at seven o'clock the Society was called to order, and after Mr. II. 

 B. Chai)inan had cxhil)itcd tlie Lodge pear and explained some of its peculiar 

 qualities, and the reading of some correspondence, lion. Gr. AV. Tliayer, mayor 

 of Grand Kapids, was introduced and delivered the following appropriate 



ADDKESS OF WELCOME : 



Mr. President, Jjadies, and Gentlemen, — When persons of note, charged 

 with the execution of a useful public service, come within our borders, an estab- 

 lished custom demands that the importance of their presence should be duly 

 recognized. The impressions that they may carry with them as they go out 

 from among us will depend largely upon the manner of their reception, and 

 the evidences they may have observed of a desire to properly recognize the 

 importance and purposes of their mission. 



If they be kindly greeted, if they receive that consideration tliat their position 

 or the importance of tlieir labors justly entitles them to expect, tliey are 

 encouraged and strengthened in their work; their capacities for successful 

 labor in their line of duty are increased. 



I sn])poso that measurably for these reasons it has been assigned to me, as 

 the ollieial representative of this city, to present myself before you, and to 

 extend to you, Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen of tlie State Pomological 

 Society, a cordial greeting; in its name to bid you welcome, in its name to 

 express to you the hope that your deliberations may conduce to the interest and 

 good of our whole country, for in accomjilisliing such a result you will best 

 contribute to your own edification and instruction, a wise Providence having 

 ordained that every man who voluntarily makes liimself useful to his fellows 

 and contributes to their good in so doing confers a benefit upon himself. 



The cultivation and propagation of fruits arc destined to become of national 

 interest. The L^nited States have already produced more good and liardy 

 varieties of apples, grapes, and peaches tiuiu any other country. They have 

 grown and olfered for sale a greater variety of fruits than any other nation, 

 yet the first nurseries for tlie cultivation and sale of fruit trees in the States 

 were as late as 1798, at which time tliey numbered only four or five ; now they 

 number ujiward of GOO, covering more thanhalf a million of acres, representing 

 more than 2,300 varieties of apples, nearly 1,300 of pears, upward of 300 of 

 peaches, over 200 of cherries, and over 300 each of grapes and strawberries. 

 Yet societies like this, organized to stimulate and encourage the cultivation of 

 choice varieties of fruits, are of very recent origin. The Pilgrims brought over 

 with them in 1620 a few varieties of apples, pears, etc., but the United States 

 and a portion of Mexico are largely indebted for many varieties of their fruit to 

 the liomisli monks and missionaries, some of whom penetrated the wilds of 

 Michigan and States west of us, more than two hundred years ago. There are 

 still to be found along the banks of the Detroit lliver, pear trees brought from 

 France and planted by those missionaries. I have myself seen many of these 



