SUMMER MEETING, 1879. 95 



green and fresli. I am in favor of lawn mowers, but if one has a good scythe 

 and uses it well his hiwn may be kept very fine. 



TESTING VARIETIES. 



Prof. 13eal. — For some years I have given this matter much tiiouglit. There 

 are many new varieties of fruits constantly coming up; and a great many that 

 are going under wrong names. Many tests reported are of no value because 

 men are trying different varieties. Unusual care needs to be employed in 

 selecting phmts true to name. Those sliould be tried in at least two sorts of 

 soil in neighborhoods in several portions of the state. The Agricultural Col- 

 lege should test many sorts, and is testing quite a variety. Tliere is great dif- 

 ficulty in securing means and help for this. Even to get adequate means to 

 carry on the class of work is still impossible. There are many classes of peo- 

 ple to satisfy. We want models of fruits, but they would be of little value 

 till we had a suitable place in which to put tliem. For horticulture, at the 

 Agricultural College, a better day is drawing near. AVe are to have a fine 

 room for a museum of vegetable products, in which I trust may be placed 

 many things of interest to horticulturists. Next year I shall have an assistant 

 to help in experiments. I have planted all the land here available for such 

 fruit to pears, tender cherries, and choice plums. We have no good place for 

 an apple orchard. I have a plan which may not work. At the south end of 

 the College farm, over a mile from the buildings, is a piece of land south of 

 two railways. I ask the State Board to give this piece for an apple orchard to 

 be set with many varieties. The piece of land is isolated. It is still a forest 

 all level, and some part of it a swamp. The plan is to sell off this isolated 

 piece and buy an old cleared place on a hill not three miles away. This now 

 seems to be the best way to solve this much vexed question of a good test col- 

 lege orchard. If any friends of pomology can think of a better way, I hope to 

 hear from them. 



Secretary Garfield. — I am glad to see that steps have been taken for further 

 testing varieties at the college. It seems to me entirely within the sphere of 

 the college to even take charge of tests of this kind at some distance from the 

 institution. To be sure in one way and another tests are being made by fruit- 

 growers everywhere — but it is in connection with business, and in matters of 

 this sort often result in too much guess work which after being handed out 

 first as an "I think" gets soon to be a statement of a fact and is liable to mis- 

 lead. What we want is exact statements of facts concerning varieties from 

 some authoritative source, with little opinion mixed up with it, allowing each 

 orchardist to make what he chooses of the statement. 



F. A. Gulley said the college had no desirable locality for a test orchard, 

 though there were GOO acres : some was swamp. There was land within two 

 or three miles of the college which could be bought for the purpose if the Leg- 

 islature would vote the money. 



Mr. Johnstone, of the Michigan Farmer, said the subject was a large one 

 and not easily discussed. Every farmer and nurseryman made partial tests in 

 every orchard. Every man who raised fruiD was watching the growth and 

 development of the trees, and noting every indication of progress. He thought 

 there was room enough at the College for a test orchard. The College was 

 growing well and healthily. Orchards are grown for their profit. The wisest 

 man is he who has the fewest but the best selected varieties. New varieties must 

 come up before experts. Can any man fix the standard? Who shall do the 



