338 Meeting of t/ie American Tomoloffical Society. 



rcspondence was immediately opened with some of our prominent agricultural and 

 horticultural societies, and with the leading nurserymen and pomologists of our 

 land. This resulted in the proposal of the American Institute of New York to 

 have a convention held under its auspices in that city. Pursuant to these arrange- 

 ments, a circular was issued, signed by committees of the Massachusetts, Pennsyl- 

 vania, New Jersey and New Haven horticultural societies and the American Insti- 

 tute of New York, proposing to hold a " great national convention of fruit growers " 

 in the city of New Y^ork, October 10, 1848. 



" Of the fifteen persons whose names were appended to this call, three only remain. 

 All the rest have joined the great procession of the dead. 



" The convention met and the society was organized as the American Congress of 

 Fruit Growers, by the choice of Marshall P. Wilder as president, a vice-president 

 from each of the several states represented, and three secretaries — of these, S. B. 

 Parsons and P. Barry are here to-day. 



" The first National Pomological assemblage, solely for the consideration of pomo- 

 logical subjects, met at Buifalo, September 1, 1848, at the call of the New York 

 State Agricultural Society, and after an interesting session resolved to perpetuate 

 itself under the name of the North American Pomological Convention. But it was 

 plain that there could be but one national organization that could carry due weight, 

 and a conference was therefore had, which resulted the next year in the consolida- 

 tion of the two associations under the name of the American Pomological Congress. 

 The first meeting of the united association was held at Cincinnati in 1850. 



"Its sessions, since the first ,^three, have been held biennially. There have been 

 three in New York, one in Cincinnati, three in Philadelphia, three, including the 

 present one, in Boston, two in Rochester, one in St. Louis and one in Biclimond. 



"At the first session in Philadelphia in 1852, a constitution and by-laws were 

 adopted and the name was changed to the American Pomological Society." 



The largest collection of pears were from President Wilder, EUwanger & Barry, 

 and Hovey & Co. Large State collections were made by Kansas, Nebraska, Wis- 

 consin and Vermont. Smaller, but no less meritorious, were on the tables from 

 other states, county and other local societies, and individuals and the provinces. 

 The display of plums and peaches from Ontario (these fruits were raised in the 

 neighborhood of Hamilton) were very fine. 



More work was done at this session of the society, than at any one of its previous 

 gatherings. Upon the apple, pear and grape, the discussion was animated. As usual 

 with such talk, there was more or less conflicting testimony among the speakers. 



A very attractive feature in connection with this meeting, was the magnificent 

 display by the Massachusetts State Horticultural Society at Music Hall, of tropical 

 plants and flowers. This was said to be the best display of its character ever seen 

 in New England. Conspicuous were Australian palm trees and tree-ferns. But the 

 most wonderful was an India-rubber tree. 



It would almost seem to the observer, that in the production of this tree nature 

 had outdone her best. 



Pleasant aff"airs in the round of entertainments, were the morning and evening 

 receptions and collations given to the members by Hon. Wm. Gray, at his suburban 



