DR. J. R. CARDWELL. 33 



54 ounces, shown in some of our local fruit meetings, .prob- 

 ably in 1858. This pear was sent to the Department of 

 Horticulture, Washington, D. C., and was rightly regarded 

 as a world's wonder in the pear family. 



Our Royal Ann cherry, (Napoleon Bigarreaux,) clean, 

 bright, and beautiful, ran in those days, 3 to 3i inches in 

 circumference. Peaches, when we had them, strawberries, 

 blackberries, gooseberries, and currants, accordingly large. 

 The size, quality, and beauty of our fruits were always a 

 surprise to newcomers. 



In the summer and fall of 1857 a few ambitious and 

 competitive fruitgrowers of Multnomah County attempted 

 a social organization in Portland. The first meeting was in 

 cherry time, held in a vacant room on Front Street. Boxes 

 and heavy bearing limbs of berries and cherries, with 

 flowers and vegetables of the season, tastily arranged on 

 tables, made quite a respectable showing ; in fact, a display 

 that would be creditable at the present day 1906. Such 

 cherries, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, and cur- 

 rants had never been seen on exhibition before. There 

 was no sign of fungus or insect pest clean, bright, ripe 

 fruits. 



George Walling, Albert Walling, Henry Miller, Thomas 

 Frazier, J. H. Lambert, James B. Stevens, Henry Pretty- 

 man, J. H. Settlemeir, Seth Lewelling, were leading 

 spirits, all enthusiasts and practical fruit growers, knew 

 about fruit growing, and did most of the talking. Thomas 

 Frazier was elected president, and Albert Walling sec- 

 retary. 



Monthly meetings were held for several months ; called 

 meetings were held two or three times in the summer and 

 fall of 1858. In 1859 the Multnomah County Agricultural 

 Society was organized, with Thomas Frazier president, 

 Albert Walling secretary. About this time the first state 



