Discussion on Mr. Lyon^s Paper. IIS 



specify for what purpose the exhibition is to be made. Then our 

 fruit exhibitions will convey more useful knowledge. 



Mr. Hoffman, of Kansas — In answer to Mr. Cay wood's question^ 

 I would say lay the ax at the root of all worthless varieties. 



MaJ. Ragan, of Missouri — A creditable horticultural exhibition 

 can not be made to include only a small list of varieties. If, in 

 making up an exhibition, we were to coniine ourselves to only ten 

 varieties of apples visitors would feel disappointed. At the Kan- 

 sas State Fair last fall fruit lists were reduced to only twenty-five 

 or thirty sorts, yet in making the awards I, as one of the committee- 

 men, felt disposed to favor the larger collections, as of vastly more 

 interest to all. It is not safe in planting to confine ourselves to a 

 few varieties. Those that succeed well this year mav soon fail, and 

 thus we might find ourselves seriously disappointed. Then, again^ 

 we find tastes differ. One customer will want Ben Davis, another 

 Grimes' Golden. Even among professional fruit growers, we will 

 find a great diversity of opinion on as simple a problem as " What 

 are the best ten varieties of apples?" Nurserymen should always 

 plant specimen orchards. 



Mr. Smith, of New York — If nurserymen, instead of catering to 

 an unwise demand of their customers, would themselves only culti- 

 vate such sorts as they knew would be profitable they could very 

 easily correct this inclination to multiply varieties and to experi- 

 ment, on the part of the ordinary planter. 



Mr. McGlave, of Michigan — Some one produces a new variety. 

 He obtains testimonials from his neighbors and sends it out under 

 flaming colors. The people take the bait. This result will con- 

 tinue to flood our country with new varieties. 



Mr. Kellogg, of Wisconsin — The "honest" nurseryman consults 

 his own interest by selling off his stock. One of them said to me : 

 " I am going to take orders for what the people ask for, and send 

 them just what I think best." 



Mr. Cassell, of Mississippi — As a nurseryman I often cultivate 

 varieties that will not succeed in mv own neiohborhotjd for custo- 

 mers iii neighborhoods where such varieties will succeed. 



Mr. iJurand, of Missouri — An experimenter should only test 

 varieties which promise to succeed in his locality. 



