1871 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



77 



way to appreciate Nature's most precious bounties, 

 fostered by the ingenuity and industry of mankind? 

 Would it not aid to extend and expand tlic youtliful 

 intellect, and often in a subsequent stage of life, 

 become a source of health, happiness and wealth ? 

 Is there a more natural and healthful product of the 

 soil than our ripe fruits ? Is there any which is 

 more beneficial and congenial to our temperaments 

 and constitutions, affording at the same time the 

 most lucrative resources as professional occupa- 

 tions ? 



Should they not, therefore, each, form one of ti»e 

 branches of education, were it only with a view to 

 encourage the love and knowledge of fruit-culture 

 and gardening, that their paramount benefits may 

 be widely and effectually disseminated throughout 

 the country, while we are all so fully awake to our 

 real interests and true happiness ; these, largely 

 consisting in our country's internal Agricultural, 

 Horticultural and Pomological resources ? In these, 

 especially in this Western country, our tangible 

 riches are centered ; in these, our prosperity and 

 wealth repose. Thus with a soil happily gifted, 

 and propitiously irrigated ; rendered unusually 

 exuberant by the proper amount of warmth radi- 

 ating from that glorious orb of light which shines 

 80 peculiarly refulgent over our free and happy 

 commonwealth, have we it not within our grasp to 

 possess nearly all that renders life most sweet and 

 contented, without seeking after foreign products, 

 or courting the results of other climes. 



I will add, moreover, that .so far as the Horticul- 

 tural Department in our College is concerned, you 

 may confidently rely upon the industry, energy and 

 efficiency of Professor Bessey. He has already 

 made his mark, by his practical work and personal 

 superintendence of the garden last year, as well as 

 by the progress of his classes in Botany and Zoology. 

 No encomium of mine would add anything to the 

 luster of his character as an instructor and a worker. 

 As to the Professor of Pomology I have nothing 

 to say. A brief past can speak for itself. The future 

 will disclose the rest. 



If these Departments in our Agricultural College 

 shall become a success by their permanent establish- 

 ment as Sciences to be taught in this and other 

 similar Institutions, the same as Botany, .Geology, 

 Chemistry, &c., (all of which belong to Agriculture 

 in its comprehensive sense,) then Iowa will have 

 the credit and honor of having inaugurated a new 

 era by the recognition of gardening and fruit cul- 

 ture as among the learned professions, and thereby 

 elevated them to that point which will give such an 

 impetus to scientific culture as will at least make 

 Iowa, and this great West, one of the most produc- 

 tive and beautiful portions of the globe. 



In the variety of matters which will necessarily 

 occupy the minds and attention of members and 



others friendly to our Organization, and the cause 

 in which we are laboring, I trust that the one in re- 

 gard to an appropriation by the Legislature at its 

 next session, may not be overlooked or forgotten. 



In the infancy of the Society, with its limited 

 number and an indigent treasury, we shall find it 

 exceedingly difiicult to sustain the Organization and 

 effect that usefulness to which it is destined, upon 

 our part, without a renewal of reasonable legislative 

 aid. To secure this object, we should begin in tii>ie, 

 to agitate the question. 



Let each member in his particular locality talk 

 the matter up to his immediate Representatives and 

 Senators. I cannot think it possible, if the question 

 is properly presented, that our request for a reason- 

 able amount will be refused. The necessity is too 

 apparent, and the objects too important to antici- 

 pate a denial, if the General Assembly are properly 

 informed of the necessity and justice of our demand. 



We arc a legitimate branch of the great Agricul- 

 tural interest of the State, which is represented by 

 the State Agricultural Society, for the support of 

 which the Legislature have been so liberal and 

 magnanimous ; and I am sure they will not be dis- 

 posed to act less generously toward us in proportion 

 to our necessities and usefulness. 



In addition to the foregoing suggestion I would 

 recommend that a committee be appointed who 

 shall, by the time of our next annual meeting, have 

 a petition prepared to present to the General 

 Assembly, which will be then in session, pressing 

 this matter in a formal way upon their attention. 



I feel happily relieved of the necessity of direct- 

 ing your minds specifically to the various topics 

 coming within the scope of our deliberations by the 

 anticipated Reports of the various Committees to 

 whom, on the recommendation of our worthy Sec- 

 retary, last January, were referred the several 

 Subjects, and which are to be reported upon and 

 presented for your consideration now. These con- 

 sist of 



1. A Committee on Entomology. 



2. Nomenclature. 



3. Forestry and Arboriculture. 



4. Apples. 



5. Pears, plums, cherries and peaches. 



6. Grapes and small fruits. 



7. Experimental Horticulture. 



8. Committee ml interim. 



9. Premium Lists and duty of Judges. 



10. Hedges. 



The names of the persons comprising each of 

 these Committees will be found on pages 65 and 66 

 of the Secretary's report for 1869. 



As the subject thus referred, embraces about every 

 conceivable tojjic which may come within the 

 province of our debates, I do not wish to press my 

 views upon any of them in advance, preferring 



