PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



NATIONAL CONGRESS OF FRUIT GROWERS. 



ITS ORIGIN AND OBJECT. 



Among the varied difficulties attending the cultivation of fine vari- 

 eties of fruit, there have perhaps been none of more serious a nature 

 than the want of accurate and well defined knowledge of their flavor, 

 productiveness and habits of growth. There had existed, also, in the 

 catalogues of various commercial establishments, many varieties of 

 fruits, whose novelty, or perhaps the mere fact of their existence, 

 compelled these establishments to cultivate them to a certain extent, 

 but many of which were worthless, and many more uncertain in their 

 character. To remedy these evils, and to purge the list of all worth- 

 less fruit, had long been a desideratum with nurserymen and fruit 

 growers ; and for some three years past much correspondence had 

 taken place upon the subject. The time, however, for action, was 

 not thought to have arrived until the past summer, when the Massa- 

 chusetts and Pennsylvania Horticultural Societies, and the American 

 Institute, corresponded upon the subject, and the latter offered to pro- 

 vide a room and other conveniences for the accommodation of a Fruit 

 Grower's Convention, to be held in the city of New- York in October. 



Pursuant to these arrangements a circular was issued calling a con- 

 vention, and all the horticultural and agricultural societies in the 

 Union were invited to send delegates. Circulars were also issued, 

 requesting all fruit growers to bring or send to the convention, speci- 

 mens of their fruit. 



