The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-06

late pears in the warmer parts of our country
We would also recommend trial of the sorts |
used at the North for cooking, as some of these |
have proved fine dessert pears in the South. And
probably some Of the fine old varieties which have
decayed al the East, and show signs of the same
| fate at the West, may in more genial climates,
have their existence so far prolonged us to be
among the most desirable.
THR sooIETYs CATALOGUE.
Allow me again to commend to your consider
| alton the value and Importance of our catalogue
| of fruits. The completion of this work, by en-
bodying the fruits of the southern and Pacific
| STATES, isyet to be accomplished This has been
delayed from unavoidable circrms tances, but we
hope is now to be done, so that the basis Of Amer
lean pomology can be established for the genera
tons which are tossucceed u.s.. The work is in
deed great, but it is duty that devolyes on us,
| as the representatives of that science which the
society has in charge, In proceeding with it,
| however, we find ourselves met by n difficulty
| not anticipated at the beginning of our work,
arising from the unparalleled expansion of our
| country. In the few years since our catalogue
was commenced several new States and terrific
res have been organized, and if such expansion
continues, as L undoubtedly will, 1t will be diff
cult TO bring the catalogue, on its present plan,
| into any reasonable limits. On this point hope
| TO hear from the chairman of general fruit COM
mittee, to whom more than to any one else we
are indebted for the progress already made. and
/ commend the subject to the thoughtful consd-
Grafton of all the members of the society, and es-
pectally invite the cooperation of every State in
collecting and transmitting to him the Informal
ton necessary to the completion OF our work.
THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF FRUIT CULTURE
The importance and value of our calling in de-
yeiopmg ne resources OF our country, in the oe-
homesteads, enhancing the value of real estate,
multiplying the blessings and comforts of life,
and promoting 4 great source of national wealth,
cannot be too highly appreciated, The more
: | reflect upon the progress we have made, the
more am l confirmed in the belief that this
| branch of culture will ere long become second
only to the growth of the bread and meat of our
country. The enormous production of strawber-
ries and other small fruits, the millions upon mil
: lions of baskets of peaches-not to speak of the
apples and pears and other fruits that are now
} annually produced-give promise that the time
: is fast approaching when all classes of society
1 may enjoy this health preserving condiment as n
I portion of their daily food. Nor can / refrain
, from referring once more to the benign in
: | fluence which our employment has upon the
, moral and religious instincts of the heart, the
| refinement of taste and the welfare of society
+ Whatever pleasure may be derived from other
| pursuits there is surely none that has afforded
stronger evidence of high and progressive state
I, OF civilization or a more ennobling influence,
4 than the culture of fruits "This,' says General
1 Dearborn, "must have been the first step in the
(; march of civilization, while the method of anne
r lioratng their character and multiplying the
s reties may be considered as taking precedence of
0 all human efforts in the industrial arts.n Ia y,
t From The day when God gave our father in
c Eden trees, pleasant to the sight and good for
S food" down TO Solomon, who said, 81 made me
o gardens and orchards, and planted in them
trees of all kind of fruits, and through the sue
i cessye generations of men, the cultivation of
and refinement. No object of attachment is more
naturally allied to the instincts of the soul, and
truly did Emerson remark ."hc who knows the
most, he who knows what sweets and virtues are
in the ground, and how to come OF these enchant-
!, ments, is the rich and royal man." And what
greater benefactions can you leave for posterity
u than these memorials which shall live and grow,
which shall tell OF your love of The most beauti-
e ful works of nature, kindred and home, when
q you,are slumbering in the grave Far better
Q these for the pcrl1etuaiion of your memory and
:. the benefit OF the advancing millions of coming
L time, than all the monumental shafts and pillars
= of polished marble that ever graced the hero $
7 tomb. 4. ll-f..tf
n | afr5-llr.g DECEASED MEMBERS.
|, Since my last report on the decease of mem
IS bers, three of the founders of this Society have
Z been removed by death, 'like fruits fully ripened
1t in their season. / allude to DIR. Alfred S Mon
10 son, of New Haven, Connecticut; DIR. Il. Il. I'm.
l. derhill, of Croton Point, New York; and DR.
E. Eben Wright of .Dedhain, Massach,,setts-ali
1, three of whom were present and took part In the
s. proceedings of the first meeting, twenty three
d Dr. Alfred S. Monsoon died May %, 1870, at New
d Haven, Connecticut at the advanced age of sew.
d nty-four, universally respected and beloved
n He was one OF the signers OF the circular calling
h the convention which resulted in the organiza
l. ton of our association; was the first Vice-Pre
. sident from Connecticut and on that occasion
n read most able and instructive paper ION the
1t deterioration of certain fruits and of parasitic
III agents injurious to yegetationn This paper may
IS be found IN the published transactions of the So
If cety and gives evidence of the careful nvestiga
Id ton and research Of its author. DIR. Monson
IN possessed a highly appreciatiye mind a refined
ID taste, and great capacity 1or enjoyment. Henc,
his love for fruits and flowers, Which was ruin,
passion with him through life. He was the frs
" President of the New Haven horticultural SO
lie ciety established in s3l--one of the earliest il
Of this country-and was q frequent writer ON sub
jects connected with horticulture and rural arts
1r His address before that society in 1913 is full
4 wisdom and beautiful ilurtrations. His memory
y, will ever be reyered and honored by all who
r. knew him. Is wv ~ ~ tsi-
10 DIR r. r Underhill was also one of the found
t. ers of our Society, and his name is horne on tn,
It, call for its first meeting. He commenced his pc
W biological pursuits at Croton Point about forty
ne five years ago, the grape, of which he planted
Mt ments commenced with foreign varieties, bu
We these proving failure, he turned his attention
i'll tor the cultivation of the Isabella and Catawba
TO then but little known, and SO great was his sue
IT. that for many years he and his brother will
of whom he was associated, sent more of these va
he rieties 10 the New York market than were
W ceiyed from all other sources He also com
u menced the manufacture of vine, and at TIN
ng time of his death had about fifty acres Of vine
ar yard and WIS also very Successful in the cultiva
in ton of the plum, of which he gave an faccoun
at at our last meeting. lie was leading membe
e, of the American Institute, and was one Of tn
mt founders of the Agricultural and Horticultural
he Society of Westehester county, Of which he wa
er the fiji st President. DIR. Underliill was gentle
"a man of the old school, courteous in deportmen
'e- and refined in his tastes and although his ag
pr. prevented his frequent attendance at our meet
ca ngs, his interest in our pursuits never declined
OF AS proof of his fidelity, he came to our las
r. meeting in Philadelphia and although at the ag
to sions as he had done in the beginning ~
DIR. Eden Wright, of Dedham, Massachusetts
by another of the signers of the call for the frs
OF meeting of this Society, died at his home, wher
ny he had carried on his genealogical researches
nd during hisiife He had long been interested il
II, horticultural pursuits, being an early member Q
ul the Massachusetts, horticultural Society, an
CHI for long course Of years corresponding secretar
re and vice-president. For many years he wa
II, chairman of the Fruit Committee Of this Societ
les for Massachusetts, in which capacity he mad
at many interesting reports, which may be foui'
be among our published transactions lie pan
X special attention to the apple. ef WHICH he hat
lis q large and choice COLLECTION OF varieties; ant
wv through his critical observations he became re
Ill fruit and introduced several fine varieties t,
Ct | notice. He was modest and unassuming man, o
he the strctest integrity, and died he had lived
IN universally respected and beloved.
TO = Nor can close this sad record without atldn
us the name of M. S. Frierson Columbia, Tenn
or who died March 2S, 1870. Mr.. Flierson WAS tn
eel yce-president of this Society from Tennessee
n He attended our last meeting, and his noble bear
It's ing and gentlemanly department will long be re
membered by all who We're present with him
2 He was by profession lawyer, and at the time O
es his death was Ia practices old counsellor q
81, Columbia, But what most concerns us is his in
o. terest in genealogical pursuits which striS
d. ingly evinced by the part which he took in The
CHI discussions of the Society his remarks heinz
d; always valuable, interesting and to the point
d. He was much interested in fruit culture, and hat
le given particular attention to the NATURALIZATION
We OF the nectarine AMI the pear, with the specia