Summer Meeting. 4^ 



2. In harmony with the latitude given the committee at the time 

 of its appointment, it decided that their investigation of the facts obtain- 

 able concerning the origin, dissemination and characteristics of the Black 

 Ben Davis and Gano apples, should be reported on account of any bear- 

 ing they might have upon the origin of the varieties and for their his- 

 torical value should they possess any, and that the work should be done 

 in the same spirit in which one might trace the origin of a cultivated 

 plant in order to determine if possible whether it was an indigenous or 

 an introduced species. 



3. When this was accomplished, we considered our duty to the 

 fruit growers fully performed and hoped to hear no more of an already 

 unpleasant controversy. But whereas the Stark Bros., of Louisiana, Mo., 

 think a too strenuous interpretation has been given the statement made 

 by their representative, Mr. Crow, at the summer meeting of 1902, viz. : 

 "that the Stark Bros, think it right to appoint the committee; all they 

 ask is a fair committee," and that as a result they have been placed in 

 an imjust attitude, the Society would state the Stark Bros, did not in 

 any other way ask for the appointment of the committee, did not, to our 

 knowledge, verbally accept the personnel of the committee nor agree to 

 stand by its report, but manifested an acquiescent interest in its work 

 by placing in their possession information, and accompanying them in an 

 interested capacity on their trip into Arkansas, which acts were calcu- 

 lated to leave the impression that they were satisfied with the committee, 

 while it did not imply, as a matter of fact, they would agree to its find- 

 ings in case the report went against their position ; and 



Whereas, it is now claimed and charged by the Stark Bros., that 

 since the report was made its legitimate function seems to have been 

 lost sight of by some, to be considered from the standpoint of its alleged 

 bearing upon commercial interests alone to the exclusion of any scientific 

 or historical, or other value, the report may possess, and that some have 

 unduly used it to their detriment in business, and to their injury in 

 reputation and character, for which our action furnished the occasion, 

 this Society would state and does now state, that it never contemplated 

 any such use of the report as is charged, and that it was not our intention 

 to unjustly interfere with any established commercial interest; that recog- 

 nizing the fact that some horticulturists and fruit growers do not con- 

 cur in the conclusions of our committee, we recommend every one in- 

 terested in the matter to consider the entire evidence as brought out 

 upon both sides, and make up his own opinion ; and that we should all 

 avoid any over-zealous defense of personal opinion which migh lead to 

 misunderstanding and partisan strife. 



