4 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
We pray, Almighty Father, that Thou wilt bless Thy servant, the Presi- 
dent of the United States, and that Thou wilt fill him and all his advisers with 
the spirit of wisdom. We pray for the soldiers who are gathered now in our 
midst, the guests of this great city. May the Lord preserve them from 
peril of all sorts and bring them— soldiers and sailors— safe to their homes 
and their desired habitations. Let Thy blessing, we -beseech of Thee, rest 
upon Thy hand-maid, the Queen of England. Preserve Thou her, O God, in 
life, long to reign over her people in justice, in purity and in humanity. So 
guide these twin nations, these people from the one stock, that the spirit of 
the Master may be with us and that in all things the fruits of our lives may 
grow upon the tree of prosperity and peace. 
We ask these blessings, with Thy grace, in the name of Him Who hath 
taught us to say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this 
day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who 
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
'evil; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” 
ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 
Vice President Robert Craig* of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society,, 
formally welcomed the Society. After speaking of the pleasant duty assigned 
him and the gratification of his associates in having the fruit men with them, 
Mr. Craig assured the visitors of a generous welcome at this time and all other 
times. He said that his earliest and most pleasant recollections in connec- 
tion with the Horticultural Society were the displays of apples, peaches, 
plums and grapes, thirty-five years ago and longer, when as a boy he accom- 
panied his father to the fruit exhibitions. Later these exhibitions became 
smaller, and for some years there had been no such gratifying fruit display 
as was to be seen today in the adjoining hall. He continued: 
“There is nothing finer than a good fruit. Among the things that minister 
to the enjoyment of men the result of your work takes a very high place. You 
are devoting your lives to making, fruit better, to improving flavors, sizes 
and all the other good qualities. We assure you of our cordial sympathy in 
your work and our cooperation to forward the success of your meeting. 
Should you desire more space for your Exhibition we will be glad to place 
the larger halls of this building at your service. Nothing would so well please 
the members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as, some day, to have 
the upper hall filled with fruit from all over the land. 
RESPONSE. 
BY EX. PRESIDENT P. J. BERCKMANS, AUGUSTA, GA. 
Ex-President Berckmans, being called upon by President Watrous, made the 
response on behalf of the Society. He good naturedly explained that he con- 
strued the call made upon him by the President as an act of retaliation 
because of his having, at the Washington meeting, in 1891, called upon Mr. 
Watrous to make the response to the address of welcome. He said that unlike 
that gentleman, who had prepared himself for the occasion, he had been 
called upon unexpectedly, but had been assured by the President that only 
three words from him would be sufficient. He continued: 
