DECEASE OF CHARLES DOWNING. 79 



Resolved, That while we thus speak we would acknowledge 

 most gratefully the Divine goodness which spared him to us so 

 long, and that although his star has now set, it has left a golden 

 record, which will illumine the annals of pomology while the earth 

 shall bear fruit or the love of nature shall have a place in the soul 

 of man. 



Benjamin G. Smith was called upon, and said that in the de- 

 parture of Charles Downing pomolog}' had lost its leader. The 

 connection of the speaker with the American Pomologieal Society 

 brought him into close association with Mr. Downing, and he 

 should always cherish and keep alive the memory of their inter- 

 course. 



Robert Manning spoke of his acquaintance with Charles Down- 

 ing and A. J. Downing, many ^^ears ago. Charles Downing's 

 acquaintance with the numerous varieties of fruits introduced to 

 cultivation in the last half-century was doubtless more extensive than 

 that of any other person in this country, and it is not probable 

 that any man will, in the future, become possessed of so wide 

 knowledge, for Mr. Downing gradually grew into it as tlie fruits 

 were from time to time made known. Many of those described in 

 the various editions of the " P^ruits and Fruit Trees of America" 

 have been rejected on account of their poor qualit}' ; and many 

 possessing much merit have been superseded b}' better kinds, yet 

 if all were still in existence it would be an unprofitable task, even 

 were it possible, for any one now to" undertake to identify- and de- 

 scribe them. 



Mr. Downing was extremely cautious and conscientious in pro- 

 nouncing an opinion on the identity or quality of a fruit, and 

 never, among all the multitude of new fruits submitted for his 

 judgment on their quality, rated one higher than it deserved. The 

 speaker mentioned particularly a day spent with Mr. Downing 

 four or five years ago, when they drove around the environs of 

 Newburg, and visited many of the beautiful gardens and grounds 

 there, including the former residence, with the nursery and speci- 

 men grounds, of Mr. Downing. In the afternoon they visited the 

 cemetery, a section of which was under the charge of Mr. Downing, 

 where they saw the grave of his brother, by whose side, in the 

 soil whicl) he loved, cultivated, and adorned, Charles Downing's 

 mortal remains were laid. 



William C. Strong said there were two prominent American 



