642 



American institutions. He was a pioneer 

 and champion of our cause in the north- 

 west section of our country; a gentleman 

 favorably known and highly appreciated by 

 all who knew him for his promological know- 

 ledge, for his characteristic modesty, for 

 suavity of manner, and for his eminent 

 Christian virtues. 



We have also to mourn the death of 

 Benjamin V. French, of Dorchester, Massa- 

 chusetts, a member of the Executive Com- 

 mittee, who died April 10th, 1860, aged 

 sixty-eight years. Mr. French was ardently 

 devoted to the cause of terra-culture, in its 

 most comprehensive sense, and has, for 

 many years, held important official positions 

 in the Agricultural and Horticultural Socie- 

 ties of his State and country. Few men 

 have been more interested in the cultivation 

 of the soil, and few have been so strongly 

 attached to rural life and rural happiness. 

 Even to the close of life, these were his 

 most cherished objects. 



In reflecting on the usefulness and ex- 

 ample of our departed friends, on their 

 labors and contributions to the cause of 

 pomology, their honorable life and peaceful 

 death, we shall ever retain a high appreci- 

 ation of their worth. We cheerfully ac- 

 cord to their memory our gratitude for their 

 valuable services, and enrol their names 

 among the benefactors of mankind. We 

 anourn the loss of these worthy associates, 

 tbut our institution still lives, and other friends 

 survive to cooperate with us in advancing 

 sthe cause so dear to our hearts. 



EIGHTH SESSION. 



This is the eighth session and twelfth 

 year of our association. Much has been 

 accomplished since its organization, but how 

 wonderful the improvement in every branch 

 of husbandry, and in all that concerns the 

 progress of society since the formation, in 

 this city, of the first association for the pro- 

 motion of rural art, just three quarters of a 

 century ago! It is profitable to look back 

 occasionally, and see what has been achieved 

 in the past. 



Most sincerely do I congratulate you 

 upon the general interest now awakened in 

 •fruit culture— on the zeal, enterprise, and 

 industry o? cultivators in the acquisition and 

 production of new and choice varieties — on 

 the multiplication of local associations and 

 publications, all laboring with us for the 

 ^promotion of pomology. 



* 



[.November 



In this presence, and on this occasion, I 

 have no speculations or doubtful theories to 

 promulgate. We have had already enough, 

 and perhaps too many of these for our own 

 benefit or others. What we especially need, 

 are the results of the ripe and united experi- 

 ence of the best cultivators, guided by the 

 deductions of science. Some of the recom- 

 mendations in former addresses I desire to 

 reinforce, for it is "line upon line, and pre- 

 cept upon precept," th it makes a deep and 

 lasting impression. New topics, as they 

 arise, are entitled to respectful consideration, 

 and the discussion of them will undoubtedly 

 elicit important information. 



REVISION OF CATALOGUE. 



It has been our custom on former occa- 

 sions to enlarge and revise our General 

 Catalogue by a discussion and vote on each 

 variety. Great advantage has already re-, 

 suited to the country, and to the world, from 

 the catalogue of this Society, which classi- 

 fies our fruits, registers those suited to 

 general cultivation- those adapted to par- 

 ticular localities; those which promise well; 

 and those that are pronounced unworthy of 

 cultivation. 



It will be remembered that, at the last 

 biennial session, the Chairman of the 

 General F*uit Committee recommended the 

 appointment of local committees in each 

 State and Territory, charged with the duty 

 of producing and submitting to a special 

 committee a list of the fruits cultivated in 

 their respective localities. 



From these local catalogues, embodying 

 the ripest experience of the best cultivators 

 in all parts of the country, it will be easy 

 for the society, at its next session, to trans- 

 fer fruits to the corresponding department 

 of the Society's General Catalogue. 



I therefore respectfully recommend, 



First, That no revision of that portion of 

 our catalogue embracing fruits for general 

 cultivation be attempted at this meeting. 



Secondly, That local committees be ap- 

 pointed, each of which shall be charged 

 with the duty of preparing a catalogue of 

 the fruits in its own locality, on the same 

 general plan as the Society's Catalogue. 



Thirdly, That a special committee be ap- 

 pointed at this time, to whom these various 

 local committees shall make their report 

 during the year 1861. 



Fourthly, That the Special Committee be 

 charged with the duty of compiling, from 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



