STATE POMOLOaiCAL SOCIETY. 77 



necessity of raising new varieties to supply the places of those 

 that decline. Happily this degeneracy is confined to the apple 

 and pear, aflfecting the pear more particularly, while in the cherry, 

 peach, plum, strawberry, and small fruits generally, there are no 

 signs of this deterioration. 



""That as fine fruits can be raised from seed here as have been 

 produced in any other country, there is no longer a doubt. * * * 

 In confirmation of this opinion we have numerous instances. 

 Witness the seedlings of the Messrs. Dana, Clapp, ShurtlefF and 

 others, which grace this department of our exhibition. In these 

 we have an illustration of what can be accomplised in the space 

 of a few years by the sowing of the seeds of modern varieties. 

 Our clear sky, warm summers and virgin soil are most favorable 

 for propitious results and will conduce to the health and longevity 

 of new varieties. 



" Formerly we were obliged to rely mostly on imported kinds 

 for our best fruits, but as time progresses these .are gradually dis- 

 appearing, and their places are filled by those of American origin. 

 Of the forty- three kinds of plums in our catalogue more than half 

 are American. Of fifty-eight kinds of peaches, more than two- 

 thirds are American, and in fact very few others are much in 

 cultivation Of the nineteen kinds of strawberries, all but three 

 are American. Of thirty-one varieties of hardy grapes, all are 

 American. Thus, of these fruits we have in our catalogue at the 

 present time, one hundred and fifty-one varieties, with the excep- 

 tion of thirty-seven, all of American origin. Thus may we go on 

 rising higher and higher in the scale of excellence, looking for- 

 ward with bright anticipations to the time when, through the 

 influence of our own and kindred associations, our catalogue shall 

 be filled with varieties of American origin, and every part of our 

 country rejoice in fruits born on the soil on which we live. 



" This is the great work of American Pomologists to produce 

 new and fine native fruits best adapted to our own clime and soil. 

 To hasten so desirable a consummation, it is necessary to plant the 

 most mature and perfect seeds of the most hardy, vigorous and valu- 

 able varieties ; and as a sho7'ter process, ensuring more certain and 

 happy results, cross or hybridize your best fruits. * * * * 



" The most important achievement of the Society is the Cata- 

 logue of Fruits. This was the first attempt in this country to 

 suppress by common consent our inferior fruits from cultivation, 

 and to define the adaptation and value of approved varieties to 

 wide spread territory. When we consider that the catalogue 

 embraces in its colums fifty States and territories, including the 

 Provinces of British America, with great diversities of soil and 

 climate ; that some of the new districts have but little experience 

 in fruit culture, and that from them the reports consequently are 

 but limited, we can readily appreciate the difiiculties attendant on 

 this great woi'k. It has required a vast amount of patient inves- 

 tigation by Mr. P. Barry, General Chairman of the Fruit Commit- 

 tee, and his able associates and coadjutors of the committee on 

 revision of catalogue. ***** 



