MICHIGAN- STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 369 



ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF 



THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, BY 



MARSHALL P. WILDER. 



Gentlemen and Friends of tits American Pomologkal Society : 



Twenty-three years have nearly elapsed since the organiza- 

 tion of this Society, in the city of New York. Held, as our 

 meetings have been, in different and Avidely distant parts of 

 our country, I deem it proper very briefly to allude to its his- 

 tory, objects, and progress. Especially is this desirable as a 

 means of information to such southern portions of our Union 

 ag may not have been conversant with the proceedings of the 

 Society. Its object is to advance that most interesting and 

 delightful pursuit, the cultivation of fruits; to promote and 

 perpetuate a cordial spirit of intercourse between pomologists; 

 to compare fruits, and opinions concerning them ; to settle 

 doubtful points in pomology, and to establish a standard for 

 every section of this great Western Continent. How well this 

 has been done, the Society need no better testimonial than is 

 furnished by its published Transactions, the widespread influ- 

 ence it has exerted, not only in our own, but other portions of 

 the world, and especially by this grand assemblage of American 

 fruits and American men. Many of the noble men who aided 

 in the establishment of this Society have ceased from their 

 labors, — Downing, Prince, Saul, Hodge, Bergen, Underhill, of 

 New York; Brinckle of Pennsylvania; Walker, French, 

 Crapo, and Lovett, of Massachusetts; Monson of Connecti- 

 cut; Ernst, of Ohio; Hancock and Eeid of New Jersey; 

 Kennicott of Illinois; Eaton of Rhode Island; White of 

 Georgia; Pierce of the District of Columbia. These, and 

 other associates of fair fame, have gone to their reward; but 

 we rejoice that some still live who, from the earlier years of 

 our histoid, have distinguished themselves as the untiring 

 57 



