THIRTY-THIRD BIENNIAR SESSION 2g 
on some “subject relating to pomology,” should be discontinued, and the 
interests of the Society be the most proper subject matter. 
The many affairs for us to consider have changed the whole aspect 
of our work, and today the various committees are doing the work, each in 
its own line, that before was for the consideration of the whole Society, and 
I cannot commend too highly the work of these committees; may I speak 
without discrimination of the valuable and very important reports of Pro- 
fessor Beach, Chairman of the General Fruit Committee; Dr. Fletcher, for 
the Committee on New Fruits of American Origin, and the Chairmen of the 
Committees on Revision, Score Card and Nomenclature as doing these Com- 
mittees great honor. 
Death has visited us often, and some of the younger as well as the older 
men are leaving us for fields and fruits and flowers and trees of a higher 
and better life. Professor Craig’s death came as a shock to me, as to all 
of you. I knew him as a faithful, industrious and educated worker, never 
shirking a duty, always enthusiastic and earnest in promoting the interests 
of horticulture. I want to give my personal tribute to his memory for his 
many good qualities, and his many friendly testimonials. I have always 
found him a true friend and a loving companion these many years, and trust 
that that “Craig Memorial Membership,” as suggested by Secretary Lake, be 
made a large one indeed, for the benefit of the Society membership, adding 
new blood and great men now, and great men yet to be, from the young men 
and women of our goodly land. 
It became necessary soon after Professor Craig’s death, for your Pres* 
ident to appoint a new Secretary, and after conference with the Executive 
Committee, with the United States Pomologist, our dear Brackett, and 
several other of the older members, I fortunately made the appointment in 
September 1911 of Professor E. R. Lake of Washington, D. C., who has 
proven himself the right man. His efficient work in the West with State 
Horticultural and other societies made him well acquainted with the detail 
of the Secretary’s office, and his plan of handling the office justifies his 
selection in every way, and I can say to all that he is making a splendid 
Secretary, as you can prove from the Promological Quarterly which he 
has issued all this year, and by the team work which is such a feature of 
this meeting, and also by the preparation of this fine program. 
There has been sent to the Executive Committee and officers, from 
our various members interested in the welfare of the Society, a list of 
suggestions for bettering and broadening its influence and scope of work. 
These will be presented in detail by the Secretary. I shall call to your at- 
tention only one or two of these items: 
First: Honors to be given by this Society, and second: Closer unity 
of action between the State Societies and State Institutions, and the Amer- 
ican Pomological Society. Our State Societies should be members the 
same as individuals, and in their own name, with the privilege of having 
one voting member or delegate. 
The honors conferred should always be, first, for distinguished services; 
second, eminent workers or writers; third, originators of new fruits; fourth, 
editors of leading fruit journals; fifth, National Societies (foreign); sixth, 
