86 REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



them, before we can know what claims each one has to our 

 favor. It certainly needs no demonstration to show that it is 

 much cheaper aad better to unite together in making this test 

 do for all, especially where the subject to be tested will cost 

 us, when united, nothing, but when procured for an individual 

 trial will cost a large price. It may not be out of place in 

 this connection to state that, under your direction, I have 

 recently issued a circular to those who were sending out varie- 

 ties, — as far as I have been able to secure their names, — statinof 

 that this Society would like samples of any new variety they 

 were disseminating, for the purpose of testing the same, and 

 promising a full report of the hardiness, quality, and probable 

 value of the subject for this section. In reply to which I have 

 received and am still receiving prompt responses from a large 

 number, who state that when the proper time arrives, — next 

 spring, — they will gladly forward samples for trial. From 

 some, on the other hand, I receive no response, which, 

 although not conclusive, is an intimation that they do not 

 care to have a test of their introductions made public; and 

 there is no doubt in my mind that if this Society had a Test 

 Garden, and it became well known throughout the States that 

 such was the case, that every new variety of worth in the 

 country would be furnished for testing, and as the great 

 object of the disseminator would be to embody the report of 

 this Society, — should it be favorable, — in the first offer of his 

 plant to the public, it w^ould be necessary for him to furnish 

 the sample for test of the first stock, in order that it might 

 have time to fruit and be reported upon by the time his stock 

 was sufiicieutly large to offer. 



This arrangement will not only be useful to the producer of 

 new sorts, but it will also be of great benefit to the purchaser, 

 for he will be kept informed of the value of all the new vari- 

 eties offered, and in purchasing can rest assured that he is not 

 getting a worthless article. And in order that nothing should 

 in the least hinder the full working of this plan, all scions 



