622 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Ofif. Doc. 



distant the conditions as to behavior of the same varieties may be 

 just the opposite of this, so that any discussion as to varieties is 

 likely to develop as many sides to the questi(m as there are growers 

 present. When a grower has varieties that are ada])ted to his soil 

 and situati(m he betravs a busiuess weakness when bv the sirlam'our 

 and glare too common in the introduction of novelties, he is in- 

 duced to slight or neglect the known, for the specious uncertainty 

 of the unknown. There is a dilference, far reaching in its imj)ort- 

 anee, between the commendable principles and spirit of enterprise 

 and progress, as compared with that universal human thirst for 

 change. 



IMPEESSIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA FKUIT 



By G. B. BRACKETT. Pomulogist , Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



My impressions of Pennsylvania fruit date back to 1876 when 

 I had charge of the I'omological Exhibit at the Centennial Exposi- 

 tion. My attention Avas there first called to the wonderful pro- 

 ductions of Pennsylvania orchards. 



M}' connection with the Exposition required my attendance from 

 its opening to its close, consequently it gave me an opportunity 

 of examining fruit as it was placed on the tables beginning with 

 the ripening of small fruits and continuing throughout the season 

 until September when the great exhibit of tree fruits was made. It 

 was the finest exhibit of its kind ever held in America up to that 

 time. Twenty states as well as Canada and foreign countries were 

 in competition. 



Twenty jjrizes were awarded to Pennsylvania exclusively on her 

 fruit exhibit. The apple was by far the most important fruit. The 

 most popular varieties of this fruit exhibited at that time were 

 Williams, Red Astrachan, Maiden Blush, Summer Queen, Porter, 

 Fameuse, Gravenstein, Lowell, Jonathan, Baldwin, Yellow Bellflower, 

 Swaar, Rhode Island Greening, Roxbury Russet, See-no-Further, 

 Gillitiower and Tallman (Sweet). 



I find only seven of the above mentioned varieties on your premium 

 list, thus showing the great changes that have taken place in the' 

 last 35 years. 



Among the many valuable varieties found on your exhibition tables 

 are some that deserve special mention : 



Y^'ork Imperial is perhaps one of the most profitable varieties 

 grown in your State and also southward throughout the Blue Ridge 

 and Appalachian region in Virginia, West Virginia and North Caro- 

 lina. It also grows to perfection in the Middle West, where it finds 

 a ready market in Chicago and other cities of the Mississippi Valley. 



It ntay be of interest to note here that Pennsylvania has orig- 

 inated on her soil 285 varieties of apples of which Y^ork Imperial is 

 among the number. As most of you know, the tree was a chance 

 seedling found by Mr. Johnson on his farm in Y'ork county; find- 



