The American Ponwlogical Society. t^t^-}^ 



much is due to the many local horticultural and pomological societies ; 

 but if the eflbrts for the advancement of pomology had been confined to 

 these societies, we should have been far behind the point where we now 

 are. The establishment of a national society has brought together the 

 most thorough pomologists from every part of the country, and given 

 a national standard of excellence where otherwise only a local and com- 

 paratively imperfect test could have been applied to fruits and their 

 culture. 



As was well remarked by the president in his address, in speaking of 

 the changes which have taken place during the existence of this society, 

 " States and sections of the Union which were scarcely known by name, 

 now contribute noble fruits to grace our exhibitions, and noble men to 

 join us in eflbrts for the promotion of the public good ; " and it was 

 gratifying to know that the highest premium for the best collection of 

 fruits, which two years ago was awarded to Kansas, — one of these youth- 

 ful states, — was this year carried oft' by her still more youthful sister, 

 Nebraska ; and this prize of one hundred dollars, generously offered by 

 the Virginia State Agricultural Society, was with equal generosity do- 

 nated by the Nebraska delegates pi^esent to the American Pomological 

 Society. Besides this collection from Nebraska, where fourteen years 

 ago not a single fruit tree of any kind was grown, was tlie noble col- 

 lection of two hundred and fifty varieties of apples from Kansas, and 

 the unique collection of one hundred and eighteen varieties of apples 

 from Des Moines County, Iowa, a section of that state where but 

 twenty-three years ago not an apple tree was to be found. These, 

 though not so large as some of the apples exhibited, were the admira- 

 tion of all who beheld them for their perfect and unequalled joiu'ity and 

 fairness, and deservedly received the prize of fifty dollars for the best 

 collection of apples. A collection of two hundred varieties of apples 

 grown near Cobden, Illinois, and nearly the same number from Frank- 

 lin Davis & Co., of Richmond, were noticeable features of the exhibition. 

 The largest exhibitions of pears were from President Wilder, who 

 showed two hundred and thirty-two kinds, and EUwanger and Barry, 

 who showed one hundred and fifty-seven kinds, and received the prize 

 for the largest and best collection, Mr. Wilder's not being entered for 

 premium. The largest pears were, as at the last meeting, from Virginia, 

 one of the Duchesse d'Angoulemes exhibited by Mr. G. F. B. Leighton, 

 weighing thirty and one half ounces. The collection of California 

 fruits, as usual, attracted much attention. We regret that we have not 

 room to mention all the other numerous and excellent collections ex- 

 hibited ; but we must pass over them with the statement that the total 



