With the establishment of the American Pomological Society, a new era dawned on the science of fruit culture on this continent. The spirit that animated Van Mons, Knight, Noisette, Esperen, Bivort, and other savants of Europe, reached our shore and spread its benign influence across our continent; and wherever the school, the church, or the foot of American civilization has found a home, there our fruit-culture has been seen to follow as the handmaid of refinement, health and domestic comfort. This enterprise has now awakened a zeal through our borders which was never before known in the annals of pomologieal science. Strange, indeed, that it should be left for us of this new world to establish the first great National Society for its promotion - a society which embraces in its organization the largest area and the most varied climate and soil of the globe, where almost all fruits may be grown with success.

The progress of fruit culture in our land is indeed wonderful. To encourage this by a cordial spirit of intercourse, to elicit and disseminate correct information in regard to the fruits of our vast territory, and to direct, control and advance this most important branch of terraculture, were the objects in view; and thus to establish a pomology for America which shall endure long after its founders shall have passed from the earth.

Few are aware of the powerful influences which this association has exerted and is exercising on the pomology of our country. Its organization covers our entire continent, and its importance and usefulness is everywhere, both at home and abroad, highly appreciated and acknowledged. No event in the history of pomologieal science during the present century has been fraught with such beneficent results as those which have transpired since the founding of our association. This institution, now in the thirty-fifth year of its existence, embracing as it does official representatives of the best experience from every section of our immense domain, all working in harmony to carry out our work to higher and higher degrees of improvement, has assumed proportions which are not only national but continental, and embraces in its organization the largest territory and the most wonderful facilities for fruit culture on the globe.

Other societies for the promotion of pomology have been formed and are powerful adjuncts - other societies will rise up to aid us in the future, but the American Pomologieal Society will continue to be, as it has been in the past, the acknowledged authority of pomology for this western hemisphere.

So may it be, so may it spread its benign influences over our whole continent, until every man, woman and child shall participate in its enjoyments, and all realize the blessings of paradise regained on earth.

With a territory unequalled in extent and in variety of soil and climate for the growth of fruits, our Society naturally became the leader and conservator of this great interest on this continent. And thus, in the order of Providence, it has been the herald, the protector and almoner of one of the most important departments of our industries. Nor is this all. Its example and its formula of business proceedings and catalogue of fruits, have been adopted not only by our American societies but by the nations of the old world. Well and worthily has it fulfilled the design of its founders. Long may it live to carry on and perfect its glorious mission.

Such, gentlemen, is the magnitude of our association, and on you and those who are to succeed you, depends the great duty of fostering and perpetuating it through the generations of all coming time.

Protect, preserve and perpetuate it, and yonr names shall be enrolled as benefactors of our land and of mankind!