38 ANNUAL REPORT. 



and another ten before it had been propagated, placed in the hands 

 of the people and yield fruits in paying quantities, that will meet 

 all demands. Therefore it is important that the experiment be 

 started without delay, and pushed forward by every appliance that 

 can be afforded by science and organization, or before the good time 

 comes, this generation will have passed away, and their children's 

 children will have their teeth "set on edge" by the sour crab. It 

 is expedient also to make the most of the varieties tliat are already 

 originated by looking them up as speedily as possible, and give 

 this generation a tree before they are gathered to their fathers. I 

 am glad to note that the interest in the growing of seedling fruits 

 is on the increase, and some of the reports received are encourag- 

 ing. There is one other matter to which I wish to call your atten- 

 tion at this time, the 19th session of the American Pomological 

 Society is to be held in the city of Philadelphia, commencing 

 Wednesday, the 12th day of September, next. 



All Horticultural, Pomological, Agricultural, and other kindred 

 associations in the United States and British Provinces, are invited 

 to send delegations, and all persons interested in the cultivation of 

 fruits are invited to be present and take seats in the convention. 

 Nearly every State in the Union will be represented in the meeting, 

 and most of them will doubtless make creditable displays of their 

 fruits. With this end in view we made an effort last winter to se- 

 cure from our legislature an appropriation of $500, to defray the 

 expense of two delegates and a display of fruits, but failed to secure 

 it. Many thousands of dollars of money was appropriated to pur- 

 poses that, in the end, may prove of less importance than this, yet 

 I do not feel that we should censure our Hon. Legislature, but 

 rather blame ourselves for not moving sooner and educating our 

 worthy members up to the standard of the age. While it would 

 be a rare treat for any of our members to meet with so many dis- 

 tinguished horticulturists, there are but few of them in such finan- 

 cial circumstances that they can afford the time or expense of going 

 so great a distance. Please to give the matter your consideration, 

 and if you deem it advisable and we cannot send delegates, make 

 sure arrangements for a small exhibit of our choicest fruit. If you 

 deem it expedient to do so, it will become necessary to create a 

 committee to make and forward the collection of fruit and also to 

 provide for the expense of shipping the same. I am of the opinion 

 that under the act of the Legislature passed February 27th last and 

 duly signed by the Grovernor, re-organizing the State Agricultural 

 Society, and appropriating moneys to aid county and certain other 



