I 



318 



ductive, but not considered by most as of best flavor. 

 The Seneca was spoken of as likely to be better than 

 Doolittle, — and the Doolittle itself praised by all 

 who spoke of it. Of Blackberries, the Kittatinny 

 was exhibited in excellent order by Mr. Williams, 

 who had brought it one thousand miles in proof of 

 its carrying qualities all who spoke of it seemed to 

 agree as to hardiness, — but all did not agree in their 

 estimation of its merits. 



Of Currants,the Versailles was particularly named 

 as a valuable variety, and the whole discussion tended 

 to show that the currant did not receive from the 

 public a reward according to its merits. 



Of Strawberries, but a few varieties were dis- 

 cussed. Agriculturist, some found worthless. Others 

 praised it highly. Same of tTucunda. One thought 

 it no better than a turnip, — others thought people 

 foolish to give 60 cents per quart for turnips, and 

 throw good strawberries into the Hudson river as 

 not worth buying. Most who spoke had no expe* 

 rience with the fruit, but failed to get the plants to 

 grow, and those which did grow grew feebly. 



On Grrapes, Mr. Fendler sent an essay on diseases, 

 one of the most interesting and philosophical it was 

 ever our pleasure to listen to, which referred some 

 of the diseases of the vine to obstructed perspiration 

 through the stomates of the leaves. Of varieties, 

 the lona was discussed, — most speakers failing to 

 get it to growthrough mildew; no one spoke of having 

 fruited it successfully, — the discussion turning prin- 

 cipally on the mildew question. It was conceded 

 to be a first class fruit, if it should ultimately be 

 found to do well. The Israella was named, but not 

 much discussed. Ives' seedling was discussed, and 

 praised by all as a wine grape. Mr. Hussman, how- 

 ever, dissenting from the idea that it made as good 

 wine as the Norton Virginia. In flavor some thought 

 it as good as Concord, — others, only " nearly as 

 good." The Cynthiana was named as a first class 

 wine grape. 



The Pear discussion did not bring out much new 

 in the way of promising varieties. It was chiefly 

 confined to noting those which had fallen away from 

 grace. The Beurre Diel had taken to cracking badly 

 for instance, and so on. 



Owing to the lateness of our return from so far 

 West, we can do no more than give this general 

 dea of the proceedings,— we shall go more into de- 

 tail in future. 



We cannot close without a brief acknowledgement 

 of the boundless generosity and kindness with which 

 as representing the Gardner s Monthly^ the Editor 

 was everywhere received, and which will long be 

 cherished a bright and pleasant spot in his career. 



ADDRESS 



BY HON. M. P. WILDER, PRESIDENT OP THE SOCIETY. 



Gentlemen of the American Pliomological Society: 

 — Once more, through His goodness whose promise 

 of seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer 

 and winter, day and night, has not failed, the re- 

 volving years have brought around the time for our 

 meeting to renew the pleasant discussions of our 

 favorite pursuit; — once more, through His mercy 

 who healeth our diseases, I am enabled to stand be 

 fore you, to ofi"er you my congratulations, and to 

 perform the duty devolved upon me by the office 

 with which you have for so many years honored 

 me. 



The place where we were assembled — this great 

 Western emporium, the half-way house of the con- 

 tinent ; the time which has elapsed since the origin 

 of the Society ; and the interval since I last ad- 

 dressed you, protracted by my own ill-health, and 

 the postponement of last year, — all concur in in- 

 ducing me to lay before you a brief sketch of its his- 

 tory, of the work it has accomplished, together with 

 some references to former suggestions and their 

 practical results. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SOCIETY. 



The first national assemblage, solely for the con- 

 sideration of pomological subjects, was convened in 

 Buffalo, on the first day of September, 1848, by the 

 New York State Agricultural Society. "Its ob- 

 jects, apart from general discussion, were to identify 

 synonyms, to correct errors in the names of our 

 fruits, and to establish a uniform nomenclature." 

 The session lasted three days, which were occupied 

 with interesting discussions of many varieties of 

 fruits; and the assembly resolved to perpetuate it- 

 self by an annual meeting under the name of the 

 " North American Pomological Convention." 



On the 10th of October, 1848, another convention 

 assembled in the city of New York, under the aus- 

 pices of the American Institute, pursuant to a call 

 signed in behalf of the Horticultural Societies of 

 Massnchusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New 

 Haven, and the American Institute. Among the 

 objects to be proposed at this convention were the 

 following : — 



"To compare fruits from various sources and 

 localities, with a view of arriving at correct conclu- 

 sions as to their m.erits, and to settle doubtful points 

 respectini^- them, 



" To assist in determining the synonyms by which 

 the same fruit is known in different parts of the 

 country. 



"To compare opinions respecting the value of 

 the numerous varieties already in cultivation, and 

 to endeavor to abridge, by general consent, the long 

 catalogue of indiff"erent or worthless sorts at the 



