544 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



nually to discuss their merits, and exchange scions of desirable 

 kinfls. The result is that these old orchards not only contain trees 

 of many kinds, but often single trees bearing several different varieties. 

 , When Dr. Hunt accepted the position of Director of the Experi- 

 ment Station and Dean of the School of Agriculture at State Col- 

 lege two years ago, he came to us with the question, What can the 

 Experiment Station do for horticulture? After a lengthy discus- 

 sion which was participated in by a goodly number of our members, 

 it was decided that we ought to know more about the adaptability of 

 the different varieties of fruit to the conditions existing in the var- 

 ious fruit sections of the State, that the time had come when we 

 should plant in commercial orchard only such kinds as would reach 

 their highest degree of perfection in that particular locality, and 

 so Dr. Hunt was asked to start a fruit survey of the State under 

 the direction of the Experiment Station for that purpose, and at 

 the same time start a series of experiments in orchard management, 

 inluding cultivation and fertilization. This work was placed in the 

 hands of Prof. J. P. Stewart. 



In making this fruit survey Prof. Stewart is greatly aided by the 

 work of these early members. In almost every old orchard visited 

 he finds most of the standard market sorts, and a great many others, 

 with usually three or four kinds doing their best, so without any 

 theorizing he is able to say "I find this variety growing in a certain 

 locality, and succeeding admirably. You are perfectly safe in plant- 

 ing it." So you see these annual meetings with their exchange of 

 views, and exchange of scions, have kept alive the interest in fruit, 

 have furnished the preliminary tests of varieties, in all parts of 

 the State, and under all conditions, have paved the way for the profit- 

 able planting of commercial orchards to day, and have furnished 

 the source from which our Experiment Station can draw much use- 

 ful information in the pursuit of its investigations. 



We are fortunate indeed in starting the second half of the cen- 

 tury to have the information that has been accumulating during the 

 first half, and to have the interest and enthusiasm that has been en- 

 couraged and kept alive in our members by these annual meetings. 



We have now reached the commercial age. The markets of the 

 world are open to us, and here we are confronted with new con- 

 ditions. In order to succeed and to hold our own in the general 

 market we must not only study varieties and methods of cultivation, 

 but business methods generally. 



Dr. Hunt in his first address before this Association said: "I 

 do not wish to underestimate the importance of barter, but the most 

 important element of success is the economic production of a high 

 class article, whether it be an apple, iron or broadcloth." 



I am glad to have the endorsement of so high an authority to 

 the idea that I have been advocating for a number of years. That 

 in our future planting, quality should be the first consideration, that 

 in the selection of varieties, location and system of orchard manage- 

 ment, we should always keep in view the production of fruit of high- 

 est quality. We are now just beginning to appear in the general 

 market. If this Society by precept and example can induce the fruit 

 growers of the State to plant and grow quality, and pack honestly, 

 we can meet any competition that may arise, and easily place Penn- 

 sylvania at the head of fruit growing states. 



