AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 149 
It must be remembered also that the zero or freezing point of the cen- 
tigrade corresponds to 32° Fahrenheit. \ n 
ANDRE POEY 
Hon. HORACE CAPRON, 
Commissioner. 
THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
A REPORT OF ITS HISTORY AND PROGRESS. 
Sire: In conformity with your request, I submit a brief sketch of the 
American Pomological Society, its history, its progress, and its work. 
The convention which laid the foundation of this society first. assembled 
in the city of New York, pursuant to a call signed in behalf of the horti- 
cultural societies of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New 
Haven, and the American Institute, on the 10th of October, 1848. The 
objects of this convention were stated in the cirewlar by which it was 
called, as follows: 
To compare fruits from various sources and localities with a view of arriving at 
correct conclusions as to their merits, and to settle doubtful points respecting them; 
to assist in determining the synonyms by which the same fruit is known in different 
parts of the country; to compare opinions respecting the value of the numerous vari- 
eties already in cultivation, and to endeavor to abridge, by general consent, the long 
catalogue of indifferent or worthless sorts at the present time propagated by nursery- 
men and fruit-growers; toelicit and disseminate pomological information, and to main- 
tain a cordial spirit of intercourse among horticulturists. 
Nearly all the leading fruit-growers and pomologists of the country 
were present, among whom may be named the late A. J. Downing, Wi- 
liam R. Prince, William Reid, and Dr. R. T. Underhill, of New York; 
Dr. W. D. Brincklé, of Pennsylvania; Samuel Walker, B. V. French, 
and H. H. Crapo, of Massachusetts; Dr. A. S. Munson, of Connecticut ; 
A. H. Ernst, of Chio; Thomas Hancock, of New Jersey; L. C. Haton, 
of Rhode Island; Joshua Pierce, of Washington, D. C.; and Dr. J. W. 
Thompson, of Delaware; and of those who still live, John J. Thomas, 
P. Barry, Charles Downing, S. B. Parsons, and George Ellwanger, of 
New York; Lawrence Young, of Kentucky; Charles M. Hovey and 
Robert Manning, of Massachusetts; Edward 'atnail, of Delaware ; 
Robert Buist and Thomas P. James, of Pennsylvania; and Ff’, R. Elliott, 
of Ohio. 
The convention was called to order by General Tallmadge, president 
of the American Institute, and its presiding officer was the present in- 
cumbent of the chair, with a vice-president from every State represented. 
The secretaries were S. B. Parsons, of New York; George Deacon, of 
New Jersey; and P. Barry, of New York. 
This convention adopted the title of “The American Congress of 
Fruit-Growers.” Its first work was the appointment of a special fruit 
committee, of which the late A. J. Downing was chairman, to report a 
list of fruits worthy of general cultivation. After a session of three 
days spent in the discussion of this list—which resulted in its adoption, 
with very few changes—and in interesting discussions of other varieties, 
the congress adjourned to meet in the city of New York, on the first 
Tuesday of October, 1849. 
A similar meeting was held about the same time at Buffalo, New York, 
under the auspices of the New York State Agricultural Society, which 
