236 ANNUAL REPORT 



THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Among the most important horticultural gatherings held since 

 our last annual session was the meeting of the American Horti- 

 cultural Society, in January and February last, in the state 

 of California. The meetings were well attended by distin- 

 guished horticulturists of the land, and the discussions had at 

 the meetings were of marked interest and appropriate to the oc- 

 casion. Our Society was well represented by Messrs. J. T. 

 Grimes and our worthy President; the former at San Jose, and 

 the latter at Riverside, and who will make suitable reports. 



The eflBcient and worthy secretary of that society is with us 

 at this meeting. He has labored with ceaseless energy to place 

 that society in the fore front as a representative national institu- 

 tion. In this effort he has succeeded admirably. We are indeed 

 fortunate in having him with us at this meeting. 



THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The twenty-second biennial session of this long established 

 and popular society holds it next meeting in Florida, commenc- 

 ing February 20th, continuing three days. It is important that 

 our Society should be represented at the meeting. Much has 

 been accomplished in the interest of American pomology by this 

 organization, which should be encouraged and sustained. We 

 are highly honored in having with us one of its charter members 

 who assisted in 1848 in founding the society, in the person of 

 Prof. Cleveland, who for a number of years has been engaged in 

 the important enterprise of beautifying the public grounds of 

 Minneapolis and St. Paul. 



THE PAST YEAR 



was on the whole a most favorable one for growing fruit. Some 

 serious losses were, however, experienced from the late spring 

 frosts as well as from the early frosts of autumn, the plum crop 

 especially being cut short by the former and grapes by the lat- 

 ter. With a few more warm, sunny days our grape crop would 

 have been quite large. 



Apj)les were an unusually abundant yield, of fine appear- 

 ance and of excellent quality. Where orchards had received 

 the proper care and culture, the tendency was to an over pro- 

 duction, and to the injury of trees in certain instances. For the 

 fiist time many of the new Russian apples were fruited. Some 

 of the more promising seedlings also bore well the past season. 



