ADDRESS

TWENTIETH SESSION

i^mertcan ilomoloaical Society

HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,

Sept. 9, 10, 11, 1885.

By. MARSHALL P. WILDER,

TKESIUENT OF THE SOCIETY.

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY

• ' . 1885.

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ADDRESS

TWENTIETH SESSION

American ilo mo logical Society

HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,

Sept. 9, lo, ii,,iSS5. .

By MARSHALL P. WILDER,

TBESIDEKT OF THE SOCIETY.

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.

18S5.

ADDRESS

BY

THE HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER, Ph.D., LL. D.

AT THE

TWENTIETH SESSION OF THE SOCIETY.

Gentlemen of the American Pomological Society :
With the close of this meeting of our Association,
thirty-seven years will have elapsed since its organiza-
tion. Thanks to the goodness of an overruling Provi-
dence, it still lives to dispense its blessings on mankind.
Long may it go on prospering and to prosper, while
the earth bears a fruit, or man lives to cultivate it.

I have several times tendered my resignation as
President, but the Society has as often declined to
accept it, and has elected a special officer to occupy
the chair when from any cause I might not be able to
be present. This action I take to be an expression of
feeling that I should still remain with you by official
relation, not so much for what I can now^ do, as for a
testimonial of regard for what I have done in the past.
So believing, I have the pleasure to address you again.
Happy should I be if I could meet with you, to
express personally our gratitude to the Michigan Hor-
ticultural Society for its cordial reception, and the

4 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

ample accommodations it has provided for us ; and most
happy should I be to exchange congratulations on the
continuance of our lives; to rejoice with you in the
prosperity of our Association, and to concert measures
for its usefulness in advancing the great work that has
been committed to our charge ; but as this cannot be,
I console myself with the hope that you will accept the
invitation of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society,
and come to Boston in 1887, when I may be permitted
to lay off the robes of office with which you have so
long honored me, unless, ere that time, I shall have
been clothed with the robes of immortality, and gone
up to gather celestial fruits, which ripen not in earthly
climes.

The work which our Society assumed was great
indeed — no less than to compare fruits, and opinions as
to the value of the numerous varieties in cultivation ; to
assist in determining the synonymes by which they were
known ; to endeavor to abridge, by general consent,
the lono; cataloorue of indifferent or worthless sorts then
propagated by nurserymen and cultivators ; to furnish
reliable information in regard to the varieties which
succeed in our varied climates; to maintain a spirit of
cordial intercourse with kindred institutions — in short,
to extend and improve the culture of fruit throughout
our land. Thus our Society became the herald and
guardian of a new era in the progress of Pomology
never before known in this or other lands. It was its
mission to lead in this most beneficent work. Most

PRESIDENTS ADDRESS, 1885. 0

faithfully has it executed this trust, embracing, as it
now does in its organization, not onl}^ the States and
Territories of our Union, but the British provinces on
the North, all of M'hich are represented in our institu-
tion, thus constituting, as it were, a Continental Associa-
tion, working together harmoniously for the advance-
ment of the Pomology of the American continent.
Most of those who stood as sponsors at the organization
of our Society, have exchanged the cultivation of
fruits for the culture of the soul in the better land, and
we fondly trust are now partaking of those immortal
fruits whose bloom was on earth, but whose harvest
is eternal in heaven. The Downings, Brinckle, Prince,
Buist, James, Ernst, Warder, Walker, French, Cabot,
and our Secretaries, Vick, Elliott, and Flagg, have
passed on, leaving bright examples of their interest in
our Society and the objects it seeks to promote. But,
while we thus speak, let us be thankful to the Giver of
all Good that some- of its founders, who rocked the
cradle of its infancy, still live and stand as its god-*
fathers to this day to receive the thanks of grateful
millions. Thomas, Parsons, Hovey, Ell w anger, Barry,
Robert Manning, still live to help us carry on our noble
work.

In Memoriam.

In reviewing events since our last meeting, I feel
that we should most gratefully recognize that Divine
Goodness which has preserved the lives of so many of
our members to ths present time. Some feic — only

b AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

a few — from our large membership have passed awaj,
and only one, so far as we know, of the more than
one hundred connected with us by official relations,
has departed since our last session, two years ago.

But he whom we could lenst spare has been taken
from us. Chaeles Downing, our beloved friend, the
upright man, and the great pomologist of America, is
no more ! The loss to our country and cause seems
now to be irreparable. But Infinite Wisdom cannot
err, and we should be thankful that he has been so
long spared to us.

Mr. Downing was born at Newburg, N. Y., July 9,
1802, and died at his home in that city January
18, 1885. His death is to me a most afflictive
event. We were associated together for nearly half a
century in efforts to advance the pomology of our
country. Succeeding, as he did, his brother, A. J.
Downing, whose eulogy it was my sad duty to pro-
nounce thirty-two years ago, he became the editor of
• the " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America," all the
editions of which have been dedicated to my name
from the first. These circumstances have drawn us
more and more closely together by the ties of affection
and friendly regard.

As a pomologist, he was world-renowned for his
knowledge, accuracy, and good judgment, and as such
had a longer experience than any other man of whom
I have any record in this or any other country. His
books will ever be precious memorials of good fruits

president's address, 1885. 7

and good men ; of a life whose great object was to
make others happy in the enjoyment of the beauties
and bounties of creation, and which has been a bless-
ing to our world.

For more than a generation, he edited the " Fruits
and Fruit Trees of America," first written by his
brother forty years ago. With the progress and
expansion of pomology, this work grew under his
hand to such an extent that he might well have claimed
to be the author; yet, with characteristic modesty, he
preferred to lay his laurels upon his brother's grave.
This encyclopaedic work, in its many successive editions,
is now the authority in regard to the multitude of
fruits described in it.

Charles Downing is dead, but his spirit is still with
us, and will continue to inspire our souls, and the souls
of those who shall succeed us, as long as a love of the
beautiful in nature, of rural pleasures and of domestic
comfort shall have a place in the heart of mankind.
His star has now set, but it has left a golden record
which shall illumine the annals of pomology, while the
earth shall bring forth the fruits which he so much
loved. His works are a rich legacy to the American
people, and an enduring monument to his memory.

Although it has not been our custom to refer to
the decease of members who had not been officially
connected with us, I cannot refrain from expressing
the deep regret which has been generally felt on
account of the deaths of two of our members who held

8 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

the highest positions in the Horticultural Societies of
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, whose hospitalities we
have several times enjoyed.

Hon. W. L. ScEAFFER had for seventeen years held
the office of President of the Pennsylvania Horticul-
tural Society, and had been still longer in other official
positions. He was much devoted to the interests of
that Society, and the advancement of our cause.

Hon. Feancis B. Hayes was in the fifth year of
his Presidency of the Massachusetts Horticultural
Society. He was much interested in Horticulture,
especially in the introduction of new shrubs and plants
for the adornment of his country residence, expending
large sums of money for this object, and was one of
the largest and most constant contributors to the
exhibitions of the Society over which he so ably
presided.

Both of these uentlemen were taken from us last
year ; they will long be remembered for their love of
Horticulture, and their labors in promoting it, and
will long be mourned, not only by their respective
Societies, but by those of this Society who remember
them as presiding with dignity and grace at the
banquets given to us on our last visits to Boston and
Philadelphia.

What our SociExr has Accomplished.

When we reflect on the unsettled and chaotic con-
dition of pomology in our country when our Society

president's ADDRKSS, 1885. 9

was established, the narrow limits to which fruit cul-
ture was confined, and the few engaged in it, and com-
pare it with the immense territory now occupied for
this purpose, and its importance as a great industry of
our country, I think it may be well to take a retro-
spective view and see what our Society has accomplished.

Its formation opened a new era of enterprise in the
annals of American Pomology, which has no parallel
in those of other lands. It was the first great national
pomological society, embracing in its organization the
largest area for fruit culture in the world, where almost
every fruit of every zone may be grown in perfection.

It has brought into close communion of interest, and
concert of action, the most experienced and skilful
pomologists of our country ; and by its proceedings and.
publications has furnished examples and methods of
work which have been adopted by other pomological
and horticultural societies, all working harmoniously
together, and thus has become the acknowledged po-
mological authority of our land.

It is truly an American Society, having, through all
the vicissitudes of the past, held in the bonds of
friendly intercourse for the promotion of our cause,
the North, East, West and the South, and every region
where fruits can be grown on this continent.

It has raised the standard of excellence by which
our fruits are judged, discouraged the cultivation of
inferior sorts, and thus educated the taste of the pub-
lic for those of better quality, so that kinds once

10 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

common in our markets have become obsolete, and
are now considered unworthy of propagation. In doing
this portion of its work it has discarded by general con-
sent more than six hundred varieties, either worthless
or superseded by better sorts.

It has established a uniform system of rules, by
which fruits are to be shown and judged. But, what
is of the highest importance, it has instituted a much
needed reform in the nomenclature of fruits, by which
all long, unpronounceable, indelicate, inappropriate, and
superfluous words are to be suppressed in the dedica-
tion of our fruits.

One of the grandest achievements of the Society is
its Catalogue of Fruits, published biennially, with iso-
thermal divisions and columns for fifty States, Territo-
ries, and districts, in which are recorded the fruits
which may successfully be grown in those divisions,
with stars to designate the merits and seasons of each.
This is a work of great merit, and not attempted by
any other society. And here let me say, that we
should never forget how large a debt of gratitude we
owe to Mr. P. Barry, as Chairman of the General Fruit
Committee, for its compilation and classification. He
has performed this duty for a long course of years ;
and fortunate indeed is it that we have, as his suc-
cessor, his son, Mr. W. C. Barry, who has been so well
educated for this duty.

Few things in the history and progress of American
Pomology have been more effective in the past and

president's address, 1885. 11

more promising of valuable results in the future than
our system of State Reports. They embrace correct
information from trustworthy persons, having special
reference to the varieties most successfully grown ;
new kinds worthy of special notice ; the chief obstacles
to successful fruit culture in each district ; and correct
information in regard to the extent and progress of
fruit culture in each section of our country, and are
published under the supervision of the chairman of the
General Fruit Committee of our Society, and contain
a vast fund of information not elsewhere to be found.

These reports constitute a mine of pomological
wealth, and contain not only all the modifications and
changes which may have been made in collecting in-
formation concerning the culture of fruits, but also in
the naming of them, and the synonymes by which they
are known ; the most desirable varieties being desig-
nated in our catalogue by stars, according to their
several merits.

I cannot close my remarks on this subject without
expressing the very great interest I feel in continuing
this most important branch of our researches through
generations to come, so that for all time we may have
a system for the advancement of pomology, which
shall be worthy of our nation and the great interests
we represent. Had it done nothing else, this alone
would entitle our Society to the universal approval
which it now receives, and the gratitude of the
generations which are to succeed us.

12 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Before the organization of the Society, while we had
around us, an immense region ready for the cultivation
of the finest fruits, great confusion prevailed in nomen-
clature, and the difference between good and bad sorts
was very dimly appreciated. At that time, pomol-
ogists experienced great difficulty in obtaining varieties
true to name ; and sometimes, after repeatedly procur-
ing fruits, and losing years in waiting for them to bear,
found themselves where they started. The American
Pomological Society has performed an immense labor
throuorh its meeting^s and its committees, in correctino;
this confusion, and it is wonderful to contrast the early
condition of pomology with its present mature state.
Its future labor will be continuous and of vital mo-
ment, in introducing new and valuable varieties ; and
what will be of the greatest importance, maintaining
an accurate nomenclature. It will inform fruit-grow-
ers, in every State and Territory, what fruits they are
to look to for successful culture. But most important
of all, its business will be to give American Pomology
a high character as a science ; to prevent the appear-
ance of mere money-making and petty attempts to im-
part undue prominence to new favorites by laudatory
names. The continued aim of the Society will be to
maintain a position of dignity, integrity, and impartial
usefulness.

To record all the o-ood the American Pomolog;ical
Society has accomplished would be equivalent to writing
the history of American Pomology during the period of

president's address, 1885. 13

the Society's existence. Its Proceedings are not only
a record of the events of the time, but they clearly show
that the Society has been preeminently instrumental
in shaping and directing the pomological destinies of
our continent. It has organized and systematized
everything pertaining to fruit culture, and has devel-
oped and elevated American Pomology. The Fruit
Catalogue is a grand and glorious work, but far greater
is the educational and refinini2: influence which the
Society exerts over its members. No one — unless
he be irredeemably depraved, — could attend its
meetings without becoming not only a better pomol-
oo-ist, but also a better man and Christian.

The work which our Society assumed was immense.
It required a great Society to carry it on. A great
amount of time, labor, and treasure has been expended
in bringing it to its present flourishing condition ; but
however great the labors performed, and the sacrifices
made in behalf of our Society, not one regrets them,
but all rejoice that they have had a share in promoting
a work so beneficent in its design, and in perpetuating
it for the comfort and happiness of mankind.

That the Society's mission for the future will be not
less beneficial is hardly to be doubted, built upon so
solid a foundation as it is. It will continue and com-
plete the reform in nomenclature just commenced. As
the laws that govern cross-fertilization become better
and better understood, it is not improbable that the
most desirable types and strains of fruits will become

14 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

more firmly established, resulting in the diminution of
the number of varieties, and the perpetuation of only
those best adapted to our various climates and soils.
The special aim of the Society should be to enlist in its
active membership all the best elements of our country,
and to form, as far as possible, a closer relation with
all existino; State Pomoloo-ical or Fruit Growers'
Societies.

Rules of Pomology.

Nothing has afforded me more gratification than the
favor with which our Rules of Pomology and the
Reform in the Nomenclature of our Fruits have been
received.

Soon after the close of our last session, we sent out
a thousand circulars containing these Rules, together
with the suggestions of the President in regard to the
much needed reform in the nomenclature of fruits.
These were sent to the Agricultural, Horticultural, and
Fruit Growers' Associations, and to the leading nursery-
men of our country. Some were also sent to foreign
lands. The favor with which these have been received
both at home and abroad has been remarkable, showing
that the time had arrived when, by general consent,
this reform should be made ; and thus our Society has
the honor of instituting it as an example for the pomo-
logical world. When we reflect on the long, senseless,
and sometimes vulgar and ridiculous names by which
so many of our most beautiful fruits are known, our
indiirnation is so aroused that we desire to blot them

president's address, 1885. 15

from our memory forever. Some have thought this
spirit might be too aggressive. All reforms are more
or less so ; but when we think of the irrelevant and
inappropriate names by which many of our fruits are
known, we feel the importance of keeping up our war-
fare until the victory is won, and all our catalogues are
purged of these improprieties. As I before felt, I still
feel it my duty, as President of the American Pomo-
logical Society, to urge a reform in the names of fruits,
avoiding all long, superfluous, inappropriate, indelicate,
ostentatious, or unmeaning titles, and if we cannot
change objectionable names already applied, at least to
avoid them in the future. Hundreds of fruits once
known in our catalogues have become obsolete for want
of good properties, and so it will be in the future, and
we shall retain only those which, by their excellent
quality and adaptation to our situation and wants, are
worthy of extensive cultivation. Like the Baldwin
apple, the Bartlett pear, the Concord grape, and other
renowned fruits, let such varieties be dedicated to per-
petual remembrance by appropriate names, and thus
let us hand down to future generations a system of
nomenclature pure and plain in its diction, pertinent
and proper in its application, and which shall be an
example, not only for fruits, but for other products of
the earth. Let us have no more names of generals,
colonels, captains, presidents, governors, monarchs,
kings or princes, mammoths or Tom Thumbs, or such
titles as Nonsuch, Seeknofurther, Ne-plus-ultra, Hog-

16 AMERICAN rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

pen, Slieepnose,Big Bob, Ironclad, Legal Tender, Sucker
State, or Stump-the- World. These were suggestions
made in raj last address, to which I still adhere and
from which I have nothing to take back. The terms
Pearmain, Pippin, Beurre, Doyenne, Bon Chretien, etc.,
applied to apples and pears, once described classes of fruit
which are now so confused and blended that the names
have lost their significance. The cases are very few
where a single word will not form a better name for a
fruit than two or more. These reforms have been
adopted in the Catalogue of the American Pomological
Society, and other prominent horticultural and pomo-
logical societies have voted to adopt the improved
nomenclature, and I desire to ask the cooperation of all
pomological and horticultural societies in this and other
countries in carrying out this important reform. It
has been suggested that the work might be carried
farther than has been done in the catalogue of the
Pomological Society, as, for instance, by substituting
Lucrative for Belle Lucrative, and Nelis for Winter
Nelis. Pomologists may diifer as to how far the reform
should be carried, but by comparison of views they will
come to a final agreement.

I desire especially to enforce upon nurserymen the
duty of aiding in this reform, by revising their cata-
logues so as to corresjDond with the improved nomen-
clature. Horticultural and pomological associations
have thus far been our most powerful auxiliaries in this
good work, but they do not come in contact with the

president's address, i8sr,. 17

people at so many points as the nurserymen whose
catalogues are distributed broadcast over the land, and
I would especially appeal to the many honorable repre-
sentatives of this profession here assembled, to give us
their hearty cooperation until the work is accomplished.
Let us push on the work so constantly and vigorously
while we live, that future generations, seeing its ad-
vantages, shall avoid the evils we have encountered,
and shall enjoy the benefits of the improved system,
and look back with gratitude to us for our labors.

Production of New Fruits.

And now in fulfilment of my promise to urge upon
you while T live, the importance of producing from
seed, new improved varieties of fruits, adapted to the
various soils and climates of our vast territory, I have
substantially to repeat what I have said in my former
addresses. These are the means, and the only means,
which God and nature have provided for the improve-
ment of our fruits, and the better we understand and
practise them the nearer shall we approach to that
divine beneficence which gives flavor and richness to
our fruits, and to the senses the highest types of
beauty, grace, and gratification.

Thus from time to time I have spoken to you, and,
were these my last words, I would again impress them
upon you as of the utmost importance. With a care-
ful study of the tendencies of varieties, and a judicious
selection of parents, as breeders, we shall go on to pro-

18 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

duce fruits which will be adapted to every climate or
condition of our land where any species of fruit may
be grown. When we see what nature has done with-
out the aid of manipulation — in the cold regions of the
North, as in Russia, from whence came the Oldenburg
and Tetoftsky apples, the Black Tartarian cherry, and
other good fruits, as seen by Professor Budd and Mr.
Charles Gibb, who can doubt our ability to produce fine
fruits even in the colder regions of our country ?

When we consider that the art of crossino; varieties
for their improvement was scarcely known until our
day, and see what wonders have been accomplished by
it, who can doubt that we may yet produce a pear
with the richness of the Seckel, the form and size of
the Bosc, and the vigor and productiveness of the
Boussock. And so we may go on to improve other
fruits, until all shall be made as perfect as ever were
grown by " the grand old gardener " in Eden. But to
do this we must study the characteristics of varieties,
and thus help nature to perfect this work.

Thus Providence has placed in the hands of man a
power to assist nature in the production of her most
perfect and beautiful creations. And whatever some
may think of variation, evolution, transmutation, or
transformation of species, the great fundamental laws
of life and its reproduction will remain unchangeable
and immutable as long as the earth bears a plant, or a
tree yields a fruit, or nature holds her place in the
universe.

president's address, 1885. 19

Nature is a kind handmaid, and, by her lovely crea-
tions, is constantly inviting us to come up and assist in
her glorious conquests. Her voice is heard throughout
the earth. To us, she says : " Come up and sit with
me, and you shall have plenty and perfection. Come,
and I will give you fruits which shall delight the
eye, gratify the taste, and satisfy your souls."

O ! Yes ! Thou Queen of Grace,
We'll come and take thee at thy word ;
We'll take thee, Nature, as a bride.
And, hand in hand and side by side.
Our loves and labors we will join.
And bless the hand that gives us thine.

We have now many excellent varieties of fruits
from foreign lands which are suited to many of the
soils and climate of our country. But when we reflect
upon the number that have proved worthless, and are
not suited to our condition, and consider the large
number of good American sorts that have already
been raised, we are forced to the conclusion that we
must, hereafter, rely mainly on the production of new
varieties from seed to supply the necessary kinds for
our constantly increasing territory for fruit culture.
We therefore rejoice in the great interest which has
been awakened in this subject, so that what was a few
years ago considered by physiologists and philoso-
phers a mysterious art or science, is now practised
extensively by cultivators in the various families of
vegetable life. And now that we have the knowledge
of this art, there is no limit to its use for the improve-
ments we may desire. And, strange as it may seem

20 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

that the knowledge of this process of helping nature
was withheld from us until our day, it is capable of
indefinite application as long as the sexes of plants
shall be known, and is the only means to revolutionize
and improve the fruits of the earth.

When we reflect on the improvement which has been
realized by cross-fertilization in the various species of
the vegetable kingdom, we can scarcely fix a limit to
its potent influence for good on our fruits. And w^e
may thus go on from one degree of excellence to an-
other until we shall produce fruits as fine as were ever
grown by our father in Eden. Go on prospering and
to prosper in this most promising and beneficent work.
You can do nothing better for the generations that
are to follow us ; and so again, with line upon line,
and perhaps for the last time, I leave with you my old
injunction : " Plant the most mature and perfect seeds
of the most hardy, vigorous, and valuable varieties ;
and as a shorter process, insuring more certain and
happy results, cross and hybridize our finest kinds for
still greater excellence." Go on ! Go on ! while you
live, and when we are gone, others will rise up to chant
our old song : —

Plant the best seeds of all your best fruit,
Good fruits to raise that some lands may suit ;
Fruits which shall live their blessings to shed,
On millions of souls when you shall be dead.

Plant ! plant your best seeds — no longer doubt
That beautiful fruits you may create ;
Fruits which, perchance, your name may enshrine,
In emblems of life and beauty to shine.

TRESIDENT's address, 1885. 21

Thus have I summed up some of the most important
considerations and suggestions of my former addresses,
thinking that I could do nothing better than to call
your attention to them again, and reenforce them as
principles upon which must depend the successful
prosecution of our work.

And now, gentlemen, in conclusion, let me again
congratulate you on what our Society has already ac-
complished. " The past is secure " ; but the great
duty still remains of extending, fostering, and rightly
directing the pomology of our country.

Other societies have arisen, and will continue to
arise, and help forward our noble designs ; but the
American Pomological Society will still bring together
the most distinguished cultivators of our land, and will
be the great head, guardian, and guide of the pomol-
ogy of this western w^orld. When we reflect on what
has been accomplished in the thirty-seven years of its
history, and think of the immense territory in our
favored land which is yet to be occupied w^ith fruit
culture, and of the increasing demand for these
products so necessary for the health and happiness of
life, w^e feel the great responsibility which rests on us
as protectors and conservators of one of the most
important branches of American husbandry. Let me
then urge you to persevere in this work and preserve
our bond of union throughout the land. " Union is
strength " ; and in nothing is this better illustrated
than in the associated efforts which have given such

22 AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

influence and importance to our Society. Perpetuate
it, that the blessings which it confers may go down
to posterity, and grateful millions shall bless the
memory of those who laid its foundations, and shall
aid in carrying out its benevolent designs. Think
once more, my friends, of the great blessings which
you may confer on mankind by the multiplication of
good fruits. Next to saving the soul is the saving of
health, and I know of no better means than an abundant
supply of ripe fruits.

Fruits are the overflow of nature's bounty; gems
from the skies which are dropped down to beautify
the earth, charm the sight, gratify the taste, and
minister to the enjoyment of life ; and the more we
realize this, the more shall we appreciate the Divine
goodness to us, and the duty of providing them for
others.

Like morning's first light, that gladdens the sight,
So may the best fruits spread over the earth.
And when we shall reach that still fairer land,
And round th^ life-tree in mercy shall stand.
May each pluck its fruit, and nevermore feel
The serpent's sharp tooth, once close at his heel.