REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 125 
genius shown in deriving new Strains of flavor and the sacrifice and for- 
tunes spent in endeavoring to make a hardy stock for the most acceptable 
qualities by the members of the society and those whom they succeed, all 
of which are recorded, and will be remembered by generations to whom 
the names of members of this society have become household words. He 
then alluded to the importance of the work that had been undertaken by 
the Department of Agriculture,four grand divisions out of fourteen being 
devoted largely to the interests which this pomological society represents. 
He concluded his address as follows: ‘It is because of our work that we 
are glad to meet the other and more numerous workers in this great field 
of fruit 2ulture, and to become personally acquainted with you. Your 
coming is an inspiration to us, and may vour leaving be followed by a 
higher appreciation of what each in his respective sphere is accomplish- 
ing, and a most hearty co-operation in the great work in which we are 
jointly interested.” C.L.Watrous, of Des Moines, Iowa, responded to the 
address of Mr. Willets in well chosen words, and the society immediately 
proceeded to business. 
At the afternoon session of this first day President P. J. Breckmans de- 
livered an interesting address in which he defined the purposes and me- 
thods of the society. He congratulated the members on the pleasant 
auspices under which this convention was being held and spoke of the 
good work the society is doing in the cause of educating the people in 
the practical details of successful fruit growing. Upon the vice-presi- 
dents he said, rested much of the responsibility of propagating the ideas 
to their several state societies, and of demonstrating the relations be- 
tween scientific pomology and practical fruit growing. Following the 
president’s address was the election of officers for the ensuing term of two 
years, which resulted as follows: Prosper J. Breckmans, of Georgia, presi- 
dent; C. L. Watrous, of Iowa, first vice-president; G. C. Brackett, of 
Kansas, secretary; Benjamin G. Smith, of Massachusetts, treasurer. Also 
vice-presidents or superintendents were elected for each one of the several 
states and Canada. The remainder of the afternoon and evening sessions 
was devoted to the reading and discussion of papers as follows: ‘‘Results 
of Experiments with Small Fruits,” by T. T. Lyon, of Michigan; ‘‘How to 
Make Small Fruit Culture Pay,” by J. M. Hale,of Connecticut; ‘‘New and 
Promising Small Fruits,” by J. T. Lovett,of New Jersey; ‘‘Recent Progress 
in the Treatment of the Diseases of Pomaceous Fruits,” by Prof. B. F. 
Galloway, Department of Agriculture; and ‘“‘Chemistry of Peach Yellows,” 
by Dr. Krwin F. Smith, Department or Agriculture. The meeting was 
opened promptly on time on the second day with a good attendance of 
members apparently ready and anxious for business. The first work of 
the morning was:revising or starring the catalogue. This being the first 
national pomological society in origin, its catalogue stands as authority 
upon all questions relating to characteristics and nomenclature of all 
American fruits. This work is being done in accordance with rules 
adopted at the session of 1888. The method of procedure is as follows. 
Some one is designated for the occasion who mounts the platform [this 
time it was C. A. Garfield, of Michigan] and with a copy of the catalogue 
in hand reads off the varieties in alphabetical order, beginning with 
Aletson’s early. Many of them pass without comment while others arouse 
considerable informal discussion, their value being told by members who 
