REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OBITUARY. 447 



probably made a competence for more men in a brief length of time 

 than any other variety ever before brought out, was originated by 

 him and first exhibited before the Massachusetts Society in 1855, or 

 over forty years before his death. He was an enthusiastic horticul- 

 turist and turned his attention to the improvement of the native 

 grape full fifty years ago. He deserved and has the gratitude of 

 millions of the common people of America, the poor, who by reason 

 of his services have been enabled to enjoy the delicious grape fruit. 

 Unfortunately, this man like many another who has deserved well 

 of his compatriots by adding wealth and enjoyment to the people, 

 never profited materially by his discovery, and the later years of his 

 life were passed in comparative poverty. He died in a home for 

 the aged. 



Since the last meeting of the society held in this place, the angel 

 of death has visited us and removed some of our valuable associates 

 and brought sorrow to us. We have learned of the death of Mr 

 Pond, of Kasson, but have not learned any other particulars. Our 

 inagazine has already conveyed to you the intelligence of the death 

 of F, G. Gould, at his home in Excelsior, also of Barnett Taylor, at 

 Forestville, Fillmore county. Both were earnest and useful mem- 

 bers of the society from the days when it was a weak and struggling 

 institution, and did much towards developing the horticulture of 

 this state and bringing the society to its present position of useful- 

 ness and prosperity. 



Our sister society of Iowa has lost a valued member in the death 

 of John Wragg, which occurred during the first week of September, 

 1896. He was one of the pioneer horticulturists of the northwest, 

 and a man of extensive experience in fruit growing. His demise re- 

 minds us that the pioneers are fast moving on towards the promised 

 land. 



Orchard Planting by the Wayside.— This is receiving more 

 attention in some parts of our older states and deserves much more 

 than it gets anywhere. Our public lands are so nearly exhausted for 

 homesteads, that the superabundance of land in the United States 

 will not allow us to be wasteful in its use. In Germany the planting 

 of forest trees by the roadside is no longer a practice. The highways 

 are a continuous garden. The owner of adjacent land has charge of 

 the roadway fruit; but the roadway officials assume charge of the 

 care and protection of the trees. The railways are now following the 

 growing custom and planting apples and pears along the sides of 

 their tracks. There are a few sections in the United States where 

 apple and cherries have for some years been the common road trees. 

 The fruit, so far as I can see. is no more subject to molestation than 

 that which grows inside the lines of strictly private ownership. I 

 found near Ithaca, N. Y., choice cherries by the side of the road; and 

 the trees were loaded with undisturbed fruit. Possibly, inost of us 

 would consent that even half of such fruit should refresh the way- 

 farers, if we could utilize the streets and have half the product as 

 compensation for the planting. In this section of the state, apple 

 trees line some of the roadways, but more attention is given to orna- 

 raental shrubbery, extending the lawns to the street ditch. 



E. P. POWELI,. 



