Winter Meeting. 247 



cided to secure the meeting of the American Pomological Society, and in 

 competition with several other states and the Portland Exposition, we had 

 here in these rooms one of the best meetings this great Society ever held. 



In the usual manner of this western country, and ^lissouri in general, 

 and Kansas City in particular, we gave them the heartiest welcome they 

 ever had, gave them a beautiful banquet, free for all. A fine ride about 

 our great city, free for all, and at the conclusion of the meeting, gave 

 them the greatest ride of over 1,200 miles, down through South Missouri, 

 Northwest Arkansas and over the Ozark mountains, showing them the 

 greatest sights they had ever seen in orcharding. Orchards by the thou- 

 sands, orchards by the miles. Orchards to the right, orchards to the left, 

 orchards to the front, growing and flourishing. Sixty-six of these people 

 for five days traveled and saw orchards, visiting and stopping at fifteen 

 different orchard centers, where we received the right kind of hospitality 

 and free to all, except Pullman and meals. 



As Mr. Watrous, the acting President, said to me, "your Society be- 

 lieves in doing things," and as Prof. Craig, the Secretary, stated, "if I had 

 known you were to give such a grand trip, I would have had a hundred 

 eastern people here to see these wonderful orchards ;" and as Mr. Brack- 

 ett, the United States Pomologist, said, "I do not believe any other Society 

 in the United States could interest the railroads enough to get a trip 

 for 66 people for a free ride of 1,500 miles." • 



This meeting here in Missouri, the entertainment, the trip, have all 

 been well reported in the horticultural papers of the United States very 

 favorably, and we get a good inspiration for our work and a good ad- 

 vertisement for our fruit interests. 



The compliment paid to our Society and to ^^lissouri, for I can ac- 

 cept it as such, and to your Secretary in his election as President of this 

 great and notable organization, was thoroughly appreciated, I assure you, 

 because of its almost unanimous decision. 



The Society, as usual, has been busy at the various State gatherings 

 of the United States during the winter. To Illinois, Prof. Irish well rep- 

 resented us ; at Iowa, H. S. Wayman was our delegate ; at Kansas, a num- 

 ber of our Society paid our respects ; at Arkansas, our Vice-President was 

 asked for, and at Xew York your Secretary will try and speak for Mis- 

 souri. 



"Keep things going." Our motto has been well carried out every 

 year of our work, and with your continued assistance, will be carried out 

 for the best interests of our Society and the fruit growers and the State 

 as a whole. 



The list of members embraces those who have paid one year or more 



