Revised Catalogue of Fruits. 87 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Revised Catalogue of Fruits prepared under the .ioint auspices of the 

 American Pomologieal Society and the division of pomology of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture is herewith suljmitted. 



In making this revision the chairman of the committee ou revision has availed 

 himself of the experience of his able predecessor, Hon. T. T. Lyon, and, through 

 correspondence, of many practical pomologists. Many sources of information have 

 been sought, and repeated efforts have been made to secure accurate and conserva- 

 tive opinion on the merits of varieties and their adaptability to the several dis- 

 tricts. But notwithstanding these efforts the chairman of your committee is 

 aware that this revision is not without defects. 



The highest aim and desire of your committee has been to present reliable 

 data concerning the behavior of varieties in various sections of our country. If 

 this desire has not been realized it has been largely due to the difficulties expe- 

 rienced in outlining districts sufficiently homogeneous in soil, climate, and other 

 important features, and in securing responses to the numerous inquiries sent out 

 to practical fruitgrowers. While these difficulties have been quite real, it is yet 

 due the fruitgrowers to say that they are as a class very generous in giving out 

 information gathered through their experience. 



Actuated by a desire to make the work as reliable as possible, and therefore 

 a safe guide to planters and others seeking such information, the work of this 

 revision has been done at Washington, where easy access could be had to the 

 library and records of the division of pomology, as well as opportunity for fre- 

 quent consultations with the pomologist and his corps of assistants. All imcer- 

 tainties of origin, nomenclature, etc., have been carefully investigated with a view 

 to arriving at correct conclusions. 



The general plan of the catalogue is based on that of its immediate predeces- 

 sor, which was largely the work of that eminent pomologist, the former chairman 

 of your committee on revision, Hon. T. T. Lyon, of Michigan. The districts have 

 been somewhat changed in boundaries and increased in number, in order, if pos- 

 sible, to conform more closely to practical as well as scientific principles. The 

 map has also been enlarged and the boundaries of the districts made more distinct. 



In view of the lack of knowledge on the part of any but a resident expert 

 concerning the behavior of varieties and the true status of fruit-growing in that 

 section of our country bordering on the Pacific Coast, Prof. E. J. Wickson, of the 

 University of California, was appointed by the pomologist to prepare that portion 

 of the catalogue which is embraced in Districts Nos. 15, IG, 17, 18, and 19, and 

 this revision is based almost wholly on his report. The thanks of your committee 

 are extended to Professor Wickson for his valuable services. 



The list of public-spirited fruitgrowers generously contributing assistance is 

 too large to attempt individual acknowledgment, but on behalf of the society and 

 its committee, I feel bound to refer especially to the invaluable aid of Colonel 

 Brackett and his able assistant, Mr. William A. Taylor. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



W. II. RAGAN, Chairman. 



PLAX OF THE CATALOGUE. 



This catalogue embraces species and varieties of fruits and nuts recommendetl 

 for cultivation in the United States and the British American I'rovinces. These 

 are arranged alphabetically in three divisions, as follows : 



