Gentlemen and Friends of the American Pomological Society:

" I still live," but I deeply regret a recent disability from which I may not recover in season to be present on this occasion. • Yet as you have so often declined to receive my resignation of the presidency of our association, and have provided a special officer of great ability to occupy the chair in case of my absence, I take it for granted that in this exigency you prefer, in the language of scripture, " a living dog to a dead lion," and thus to retain me, not so much for what I now can do, as for what I have done for the objects you seek to promote.

Our constitution demands of its president an address, and I, therefore, will speak to you once more in regard to the interests and objects which it has to advance, and which I deem worthy of your attention.

This is the fourth time our Society has assembled in this goodly city at the invitation of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, to whom, in behalf of our own Association, and in my own behalf, I again present our grateful acknowledgments for its oft repeated courtesies to us, and especially, for its constant co-operation and aid during the lifetime of our Association.

Gladly, most gladly, do we accept of these hospitalities so generously tendered to us. Happy, most happy, are we to be here once more in this time-honored city, so renowned for its schools of science, advanced civilization, and benefactions to mankind; here, at the birthplace of that immortal declaration of heaven-born principles of human rights which gave to the world the first great free republic, the most progressive, prosperous and independent nation on the globe; here, where the first society was formed for the promotion of agriculture, and the first permanent horticultural society on this continent - both of which, we rejoice to know, are here to-day in a vigorous, green old age; here, where some of the first general efforts were made for the promotion of American pomology, - efforts which culminated in the estab lishment of this Society, and other similar institutions, - efforts whose merits throughout our immense domain, excite the wonder and admiration of the world. Here, too, were the homes of Bartram and Mease, Landreth and Buist, James, Brinckle, and Houghton, and other pioneers and cultivators, whose labors contributed very largely to the advancement of our cause, and whose names, in connection with those of other benefactors of our Society, will be held in grateful remembrance while the blessings of rural art, the charms of nature, and the golden fruits of summer and autumn shall gladden the sight and minister to the comfort and happiness of mankind.

These worthy men, like those others who laid the foundations of our national compact, have finished their labors and gone to receive their reward. But we still live to carry out the noble designs which they originated, and thus to develop the blessings of human freedom and the wonderful resources of our land, and make it more and more worthy of the protection of an independent, enlightened, enterprising and prosperous people.

I have the pleasure to announce that during the present session the committee appointed at our last meeting to prepare a Code of Rules in regard to the Nomenclature of Fruits, will present their report. This I have examined carefully, and desire to say that it meets my entire approval, and I tender my sincere thanks to the Hon. Mr. Lyon, its chairman, and his associates, for the able and judicious manner in which they have discharged their duty.

In former addresses I have spoken to you of the importance of the establishment of short, plain and proper rules, to govern the nomenclature and description of our fruits, and of our duty in regard to it; and I desire once more to enforce these opinions on a subject which I deem of imperative importance. Our Society has been foremost in the field of reform in this work, but there is much yet to be done. We should have a system of rules consistent with our science, regulated by common sense, and which shall avoid ostentatious, indecorous, inappropriate and superfluous names. Such a code your committee have in hand, and I com- mend its adoption. Let us have no more Generals, Colonels or Captains attached to the names of our fruits; no more Presidents, Governors or titled dignitaries; no more Monarchs, Kings or Princes; no more Mammoths, Giants or Tom Thumbs; no more Nonsuches, Seek-no-furthers, Ne plus ultras, Hog-pens, Sheep-noses, Big Bobs, Iron Clads, Legal Tenders, Sucker States or Stump-the-Worlds. Let us have no more long, unpronounceable, irrelevant, high-flown, bombastic names to our fruits; and, if possible, let us dispense with the now confused terms of Belle Beurre, Calebasse, Doyenne, Pearmain, Pippin, Seedling, Beauty, Favorite, and other like useless and improper titles to our fruits.

The cases are very few where a single word will not form a better name for a fruit than two or more. Thus shall we establish a standard worthy of imitation by other nations; and I suggest that we ask the cooperation of all pomological and horticultural societies, in this and foreign countries, in carrying out this important reform.

As the first great national Pomological Society in origin, the representative of the most extensive and promising territory for fruit culture of which we have any knowledge, it became our duty to lead in this good work. Let us continue it, and give to the world a system of nomenclature for our fruits which shall be worthy of the Society and the country - a system 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, and save our Society and the nation from the disgrace of unmeaning, pretentious and nonsensical names, to the most perfect, useful and beautiful productions of the soil the world has ever known.

Every year brings additional proof and confirmation of our predictions in regard to the wonderful progress and facilities for fruit culture in this western hemisphere. This impresses me more and more strongly with the duty of giving a right direction to one of the most important sanitary and benevolent industries of our land, and as far as possible, controlling the recommendation of the host of new fruits of little merit, which are being constantly brought to notice; and while commending and disseminating all good varieties, let us, if possible, restrain the flooding of our country with those of inferior quality and little value. Let us use our utmost exertions to discourage and restrain the outrageous deceptions, which every returning season brings, by new fruits sent forth with the highest praises, as if superior to anything before known, but which in a few seasons are found no better than many old kinds, if as good. The plea of ignorance cannot be urged in extenuatior of such practices, while the means of informatior are as accessible as they are now.

Such deceptions no honest or honorable man would practice.