REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE THIRTIETH 

 BIENNIAL SESSION OF THE AMERICAN POMO- 

 LOGICAL SOCIETY. 



As a delegate from this Society it was mv privilege to attend the 

 Thirtieth Biennial Session of the American Pomological Society, 

 held in the Exposition Grounds at Jamestown, Va., September 24th 

 to 26th, 1907. There was a goodly attendance of members and 

 delegates, coming from the various sections of the United States 

 and Canada, including several veteran fruit growers of the early 

 days of the Society. Also prominently present were representatives 

 of the Experiment Stations of the different States who were ready 

 to give an account of their work. President Goodman kept the 

 papers and the discussions well in hand, so that much ground was 

 covered, with unflagging interest. 



A prominent topic for reports, discussion, and conversation was 

 the breeding of new varieties by cross-fertilization. The sessions 

 of this society would appear to afford the proper forum for reporting 

 and comparing the work in this direction by the State Stations, 

 which have the facilities for careful, scientific, and continuous 

 experiment in obtaining definite results. 



The skilful cultivator, as well, who has a quick and observant 

 eye, may have a wider field and will often arrive at conclusions, 

 with happy results. Such outside work is valuable and should 

 receive encouragement, but it is evident it must be desultory and 

 the reliance in this case must mainly be upon lucky chance. The 

 scientific expert, however, proceeds upon well established laws of 

 heredity. There is no magic or necromancy in his work. There 

 is no such folly as attempting to create new kinds. His wise eft'ort 

 is to cross fertilize, recognizing distinguishing traits in the parents, 

 hoping thereby to develop higher traits in the offspring. 



The International Society is the natural medium where all such 

 experiments in cross breeding, as well as all chance finds should be 

 reported and collated. In my opinion our Massachusetts Society 



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