The record-union., 1895-01-17
the warm welcome its members had re-
BIENNIAL ADDRESS.


PRESIDENT Berckmans then delivered
his Dlennlal address to the society, as
follows:
LddieS and Gentlemen and Members of
ute american POnloIogicdE Society: In
again being permitted to be associated
with those whose object in thus coming
together Is the dissemination OF true
hnoWledge, beg to express my gratlh-
cation at the auspicious circumstances
winch assure the success of this conven-
tlon. You recognize the necessity of
voluntary association and intercourse
with men OF education and scientific at
talnments in order to add to your own
knowledge of what we may have COM
mon In interest. Our association may be
said to be a large family whose mem oers,
although often separated from each other
by great distances, have, nevertheless,
occasional opportunities for a friendly
reunion where they will meet kindred
spirits and work together in advancing
our beautiful pursuit which is one OF the
most potent factors in promoting educa-
ton. comfort and national wealth.
While we miss many of our members
and counselors, who are prevented from
participating with us in the good work
which will emanate from your delibera-
tons, they have given you their aid III
presenting papers and reports which
show their Solicitude for the welfare of
your grand organization, and they regret
that the 1atIgueS OF long Journey and a
! lengthy absence from their homes debar
them from the privilege of meeting with
| you.
| But to those of US who have come to
this land Of wonders to grasp the hand
! OF the friends whom we hoped for years
past to meet face to face, is given the joy
| ful opportunity Of fulfilling that desire,
and with their aid, so cordially protfered
| in thair md
| with pleasing assurances that our laDors
| Tor biological progress will result in
| the most abundant success for the good
OF our whole country. 1t is needless that
l should occupy your time in Calculating
plan OF work; this is practically set
| forth in the programmes prepared for
| the daily sessions, but as you have at a
former occasion graciousIy accepted few
| suggestions which deemed it my duty to
make for the welfare OF our society, L
| therefore desire to again refer to few
! subjects intimately interviewer with the
| wonderfully rapid progress of pomology,
| and also as to the affairs OF this aSsocIa-
| ton since its last session at Washington,
d. c., during September, 1891, where an
| invitation to hold the twenty-1Ourth
| biennial session at Chicago was received
| from the Director General of the W WOrld'S s
| Columbian Exposition. This was aC
! cepted conditionally upon certain prom
! lSeS Iu6u Illdu6 D6IHR CdrFl6u OUT. anu Iu q
| whole matter referred to a special COM
mittee composed Of five mem bers, repre-
senting the Northern, Eastern, Southern,
Western and Pacific sections.
Alter carefully considering the subject
it was decided that it would not be ad-
visable to hold q regular business session
during the Column bian Exposition, as
there were doubts as to securing a regular
and full attendance Of our members, and
also of Inadequate facilities offered by the
exposition, but that a social reunion,
where further action could be taken as to
the place OF meeting for the next session,
would be the most practical course to
adopt.
Subsequent events proved the wisdom
of this plan, which was indorsed by the
| horticultural press, and at the called ses-
| sion held on August II, 1893, at the Art
! Institute at Chicago, the invitation Of the
| California State Board of Horticulture
was unanimously accepted. We rejoice
| that we are afforded this opportunity of
! greeting our Pacific friends upon their
own hearth and form new friendly ties,
/ which snail be as everlasting as are the
ethics OF our society.
IN REVIEWING THE WORK
Of the American Pathological Society
! since Its inception in 1913, and the COM
| paratively restricted territory which it
| then covered, we stand amazed at
the progress made in this science.
! In the early history of the So
| ciety many problems relating to POM
oiogy were unsolved; scientific investi-
cations had not received the attention
! which in later years have made clear
| what was once obscure. and many of the
| obstacles to successful fruit culture have
| been gradually removed by systematic
scientific work. Our General Govern
meut has given material aid toward ad-
| methods hyv
| difusing The results Of tho work of the
! various scientific divisions OF the United
! States Department of Agriculture, but
greater benefits have been derived from
our State and local horticultural societies
! whose work is OF more practical value for
! their immediate sections, and such Of our
States that have appreciated the value of
their fruit products as a source of wealth
have wisely given their AID to its progress
/ Many States by legislative appropria-
/ tiOns and legal enactment have so pro-
! tected the fruit-groWing industry as to
have vastly increased their revenue and
! population and advanced their educa-
| tional and material progress.
THE MAGNITUDE OF CALIFORNIA; FRUIT
INDUSTRY
| Is in a great measure due to the liberal
| course adopted by its State Government;
| older States may derive practical lesson
/ from these commendable principles, and
! be more liberal in giving the practical
aid they have so far withheld. The es-
| tablishing of State Experiment Stations
sustained by Federal appropriation is
| wise in principle, and where such sta
! tions are conducted solely with view of
advancing all methods of culture they
have been connected with good results.
Unfortunately partisan political infu-
! ence has in several States caused the work
OF these stations to be of little or no bene-
tit to the people, because OF the inetfici-
! ency of some of their officers, whose DO
tical influence is greater than their
| scientific attainments or fitness for
the work expected from them. 1t
is therefore TO be hoped that all
progressive pomologists will unite
their efforts in urging their respective
State Legislatures to select competent
men to be placed in charge of their ex-
pertinent stations.
When this course is pursued they will
receive the support OF our most practical
and scientific pomologists, as without
their aid station work would De slow and
unsatisfactory to those who expect to be
| benefited from such institutions. We,
however, owe to the persevering labors
of many of the men OF the past and
present generations the vast number of
fruits which have so greatly increased
our supplies, and especially to such
eminent men as Wilder. Downing
Warder, Barry and Manning who opened
the door as to the possibilities connected
with
PROGRESSIVE POMOLOGY.
We number now among US as CO.
workers your own Burbank, whose con-
scientious experiments have given you