TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION. 
5 
“Gentlemen, it is to me a source of great pleasure to meet so many of you 
whom I had the pleasure of meeting many years ago. The first Session of 
the Pomological Society which I attended was in Philadelphia, in 1860. I 
see gentlemen here today who were present then. Alas, many others have 
gone from among us. We came together at that time under rather un- 
favorable auspices, still the organization was a large one and did a great 
deal of work. Today the conditions are altogether different, and “good will 
toward men” is the motto of this City of Brotherly Love. 
Philadelphia may lay claim to a great deal of the early pomological work. 
If I am not mistaken, the very first attempt that was made toward an im- 
provement of our native grape by systematic methods was made in Philadel- 
phia. Perhaps some of you may remember a gentleman by the name of 
Peter Raabe who attempted to improve the native grapes by the infusion of 
foreign blood. He succeeded. One of the very first was named after one of 
the most worthy men you had in the pomological world, the late Dr. W. D. 
Brinckle. The next one was named after his daughter Emily; if I am not 
mistaken the third was “Clara” 'and the fourth was “Raabe.” That was 
the beginning of the first era of progressive grape growing in this country. 
Perhaps I may antedate these remarks by saying that the pear which is still 
the standard of perfection originated in Philadelphia— the Seckel. Another, 
which may not have originated in Philadelphia, but at a point so' close to it 
that Philadelphia may lay claim to it, is the Kieffer; which, as all of you 
gentlemen who are engaged in pear growing know, has been a God-send as 
a commercial product. In noticing the display of grapes today I saw rather 
a smaller quantity than I anticipated from the early beginning which was 
made here, but the quality seems to be rather good. 
In view of the large amount of work before us, as outlined by your Presi- 
dent, I am reminded to be brief. It is gratifying to us to have been welcomed 
here by one of the worthiest men engaged in horticulture in Philadelphia, 
Mr. Robert Craig. His name is universally known, and he is esteemed as one 
who stands at the head of his profession. 
Mr. President, I will take you at your word; my “three’ words” have per- 
haps been multiplied, but with your permission, I will now simply say to Mr. 
Craig, in behalf of the American Pomological Society, that we thank him 
most heartily for his generous words of welcome. 
I 
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. 
President Watrous here announced that the Committees for the Session 
had been constituted as follows: 
COMMITTEES. 
Credentials— W m. C. Strong, Massachusetts; Howard A. Chase, Pennsyl- 
vania; J. C. Evans, Missouri. 
Order of Business— W m. B. Alwood, Virginia; Geo. C. Butz, Pennsylvania; 
L. R. Taft, Michigan. 
Award of Wilder Medals— F. M. Hexamer, New York; H. E. Van Deman, 
Virginia; John Craig, Iowa; G. B. Brackett, District of Columbia; A. G. Gulley, 
Connecticut. 
Resolutions— L. A. Goodman, Missouri; F. A. Waugh, Vermont; Wm. R. 
Lazenby, Ohio. 
