io6 State Horticultural Society. 



to compare with the former variety. In order to fairly test the keep- 

 ing qualities of Black Ben Davis fruit from Ben Davis trees was secured 

 from the Bain orchard where they were growing under conditions com- 

 parable with those of Black Ben Davis. It is generally admitted by fruit 

 growers that the Ben Davis and Gano are much alike as to keeping 

 qualities. Twigs were also secured from the same trees so a study of 

 their characters might be made. Each member of the committee took 

 portions of these specimens and kept a part of them in cold storage and 

 a part of each in ordinary cellars, so as to observe them at different times 

 during the winter. 



"Some of the points of difterence which different fruit growers 

 have from time to time stated to exist between Black Ben Davis and 

 Gano are that the former possessed a more yellow flesh, was firmer 

 and a better keeper and possessed a more sprightly flavor, especially 

 toward spring than did Gano. Some have also suggested that there 

 was a slight difterence in the shape and that the former might be of 

 higher color. After a careful comparison of the apples once each 

 month during the winter and spring the committee are unable to find any 

 difference between Gano and Black Ben Davis. Black Ben Davis 

 differed no more from Gano than did the individual specimens of each 

 sort dift'er among themselves. Both Ben Davis and Gano kept as well 

 as did Black Ben Davis. So far as the committee could see Black Ben 

 Davis and Gano were of the same color of flesh, of the same flavor and 

 of identical varietal character throughout. In each variety certain speci- 

 mens kept better than others and the firmer specimens of each sort were 

 more crisp and of better flavor when cut from time to time than were 

 the riper specimens of the same variety. 



"Some authorities have suggested that there was a difference between 

 the twig and leaf characters. The two-year-old wood of Black Ben 

 Davis has been pronounced more hairy than that of Gano and the vena- 

 tion of the leaves has been said to differ. This committee has not been 

 able to distinguish any difference between the trees, twigs or leaves that 

 did not exist to an equally marked degree between different specimens 

 of the same variety. 



"The phenology of Black Ben Davis and of Gano has been re- 

 corded for trees of similar age in the same orchard, where they were 

 given similar treatment. There was no dift'erence in the time of starting 

 into growth in spring, in the time of blossoming, in the color or other 

 characters of the flowers or in the time of shedding of the leaves lu 

 autumn. 



"Specimens of Black Ben Davis and Gano were taken to Washing- 



