Editorial Notes. 



A New Departure Needed' 



Mutterings of discontent have reached us in various ways from many members of 

 the American Pomological Society, respecting its Secretaryship, 



Probably at its coming session next fall, no question will be considered with more 

 anxiety than this, and upon its solution will largely depend the future success of the 

 Society, and harmony be preserved among the leading pomologists of the country. 



The present Secretary has committed an unpardonable blunder, one deeply de- 

 plored by the other leading officers of the Society, and has placed himself in a 

 position calculated to draw out much determined and persistent opposition. 



For the past two or more years, flattered with pride of place, and an egotistical 

 estimate of his long years of experience in fruits and pomological matters, he has 

 run a free gauntlet with pen and speech, criticising whom he pleased (sometimes 

 most unnecessarily, perhaps even scurrilously, without just cause), and not in the 

 least cautious in the use of uncomplimentary allusions to many of the most influential 

 of the editorial fraternity. 



In the last report of the American Pomological Society, this egotism is carried so 

 far as to appear in the shape of foot notes to several pages, wherein he asserts and 

 re-asserts in the most positive manner, the comparative ignorance of the editors of all 

 our Agricultural and Horticultural Journals, concerning fruits ; and while not 

 disposed to allow them either the credit or benefit derived from a possible practical 

 experience in fruit culture, he actually intimates that they are responsible for most 

 of the errors in pomological nomenclature, and are ignoi-atmises iii general. 



Only one person with "long years of experience," the great "I am," "Secretary 

 of American Pomological Society," is supposed to have a correct knowledge of 

 pomology, and all are expected to play second fiddle to this noble functionary. 



We are supremely disgusted, doubtless the public are too, with these airs of 

 assumption. These /oo^ notes we will collate and reproduce in our next number. 



By this abuse of th'e liberty of his position (for none of the other executive officers 

 saw or knew of these notes till the reports were all printed and ready for distribu- 

 tion), the Secretary has not only arrayed himself in the most direct antagonism to 

 the press of the country, but has thrown to them an insult, which every high- 

 minded journalist will resent. 



We say to the American Pomological Society, this is disastrous to you. Your 

 officers should be in perfect harmony with the press. You should seek its co-opera- 

 tion. It is your most efficient ally ; insult or despise them, and your own influence 

 and success will wane. 



Take a new departure ; let your future Secretary be one whom all will delight to 

 honor, and toward whom the press will cheerfully off"er every assistance, and who 

 ■will co-operate in helping your Society toward still greater success and reputation. 



