2vS 
AMERICAN POMOEOGICAE SOCIETY 
work. It must bring forth the fruit, or the continuity of plant life will be 
broken and the earth will be turned into a desert ere long. * * * 
It has no time to flaunt its finery, for it is busy beyond measure. Viewed 
from without, necessity seems to be the only factor in Nature for which every- 
thing moves and works.” 
“But when this same flower enters the heart of men, its aspect of busy 
practicalness is gone and it becomes the very emblem of leisure and repose. 
The same object that is the source of endless activity without, is the per- 
fect expression of beauty and peace within.” 
“In the sphere of Nature the flower carries with it a letter of introduc- 
tion which recommends if as having immense capacity for doing useful 
work; but it brings an altogether different introduction when it knocks at 
the door of our hearts — Beauty then is its only recommendation.” 
“In Nature, its work is that of a slave who has to make his appearance at 
appointed times, but in the heart of man, it comes like a messenger from 
the King — the flowers come across with the message from the other shore 
and whisper in our ears — ‘I am come — He has sent me — I am a messenger 
of the Beautiful, the one whose soul is the bliss of love.’ ” 
“In the same form, sound, color and taste, two contrary notes are heard, 
one of necessity, the other of joy. Outwardly, Nature is busy and restless; 
inwardly, she is all silence and peace. She has toil on one side and leisure 
on the other. You see her bondage from without, but within her heart is a 
limitless beauty.” 
This is the eldest and only Inter-National or American Society of this 
character. It was organized two generations ago and has been the inspi- 
ration of all the Horticultural Societies of the land; it has been the leader 
in direct fruit growing; it has been the director in the selection of com- 
mercial and family varieties of fruits; it has been the star to direct the 
development of tree fruits of the North and the South, of the berries in all 
sections, and of the various nuts which are counting so much in every 
city of America; it has been the power which has inspired the scientist to 
a study of the insect-pests, and the fungous diseases; it has closely allied 
itself to our great Department of Agriculture — so closely in fact, that they 
can work in harmony, using to advantage knowledge of the one and the 
business ability of the other. The Society is correctly named “American,” 
and it shall be our ambition by a united and combined effort to make it 
truly such, pressing forward to a larger and greater usefulness in the 
cause of pomology for the years to come. 
The Constitution requires an address from the President of the So- 
ciety at each meeting. This was one of the requirements when the beloved 
Wilder was President, but if here today to witness the tremendous develop- 
ment of horticulture all over America and the isles of the sea, he would see 
a wonderland where car-loads are now on the market where bushels were 
before, and see fruits and nuts growing where no one living at his time 
even thought that they could be grown. The time when the President knew 
it all, has passed, and the specialist each in his own line, has his hands 
full in taking care of, and studying and developing his own specialty; and 
it keeps him busy too. It is proper, therefore, that the President’s address 
