150 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
took the title of the North American Pomological Convention, and 
which, at the meeting in New York, October, 1849, was united with the 
American Congress of I'ruit-Growers, under the name of the American 
Pomological Congress. 
The next meeting of the congress was at Cincinnati, in 1850. The 
president, however, owing to a death in his family, was unable to be 
present, and Dr. W. D. Brincklé was chosen president. Since this meet- 
ing the sessions have been held biennially, the next being at Philadei- 
phia, in 1852, when, Dr. Brincklé having declined a re-election, the former 
presiding officer was again called to the chair, which he has occupied 
ever since. At this session the death of Mr. Downing, which occurred 
a short time,previously, was announced in a eulogy delivered by the 
president, at the invitation of the horticultural societies of Pennsylvania 
and Massachusetts. A constitution and by-laws were also adopted, and 
the name was changed to the “American Pomological Society.” The 
session of 1854 was at Boston; 1856 at Rochester; 1858 at New York, 
when a large number cf varieties of fruits was added to the rejected 
list, making, with seventy-two pears discarded in 1854, and a few at 
other sessions, six hundred and twenty-five varieties of fruits rejected. 
The session of 1860 was at Philadelphia; 1862 at Boston, when the 
present plan of the society’s catalogue was adopted, and 1864 at Roch- 
ester. The session of 1867 was held at St. Louis, being the first meeting 
west of the Mississippi River; that of 1869 at Philadelphia, when for 
the first time specimens of fruit from California were shown, as well as 
fine exhibitions from Kansas and other new States, and that for 1871 is 
appointed at Richmond, Virginia, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of September, 
when, it is anticipated, the whole country, South and North, will be more 
fwly represented, both by men and fruits, than ever before. 
The progress made by this society is forcibly shown by the fact that, 
while our select list of twelve pears in 1848 had, only eight years later, 
increased to ninety-four, the standard of excellence has not been lowered, 
but raised. Twenty-five years ago, every new fruit of good quality was 
at once recommended for more or less extensive cultivation. If a good 
bearer, it was so much the better; if a hardy and vigorous tree, better 
still; but quality was all that was deemed indispensable; while to-day 
a fruit must combine, in a good degree, all these and many other points, 
or it will not stand the test of this society; and even some of those 
then thought most desirable are now on the rejected list. We hear no 
more of varieties which, though not of sufficient excellence for extensive 
cultivation, are yet so good that a single tree should be in every large 
collection ; a sort worthy of no more extensive cultivation is now 
deemed not worth growing at.all. 
The American Pomological Society has brought together, from more 
than thirty States and provinces, the most intelligent, experienced, sa- 
gacious, and skillful cultivators, who have taught each other and made 
the knowledge of one the property of all. Its example has led to the 
formation of similar associations in England, France, and Belgium, and 
of local associations in our own country. 
its published proceedings, embracing reports of discussions, reports of 
committees, catalogues, and papers on various pomological subjects, em- 
body, in a condensed form, a mass of information on this science—the 
best thoughts of the best cultivators throughout our land—possessed by 
no other nation on earth. Instead of the fifty-four varieties recom- 
mended in 1848, its catalogue now contains the names of five hundred 
and eighty fruits, viz: one hundred and seventy-six applies, one hundred 
and seventeen pears, thirty-nine cherries, filty-one peaches, six nec- 
