TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 157 



Mr. Beal : The speaker has mentioned a variety of tests at an experi- 

 ment station in NewYork. I wish to call on Prof. Taf t to see if he dares 

 make such an expression for Michigan. 



Prof. Taft: I shall have to own that they are growing more grapes 

 than we are; but, as regards apples, I notice that Geneva had 427 varie- 

 ties. We have something over 450, and still others in the nursery. We 

 have fully twice the number of peaches. There are 111 at Geneva, and we 

 have something over 200. In the way of cherries, we have at least three 

 times as m.any. There are only 43 at Geneva, and we have over 125. We 

 have most of that number at the college, and an equal number, nearly as 

 many more, at South Haven. We have also at South Haven rather more 

 grapes — we have at least 200 varieties, and about that number at the 

 college. As regards plums, they are some way ahead. They have 204 

 varieties; we, perhaps, have not over 150; and as for strawberries, we 

 have fully half as many more, both at South Haven and at the college. 

 We have, I think, nearly as many blackberries, but in the way of goose- 

 berries, we have for less than they. They have 219, embracing a large 

 number of English varieties, whereas our number is less than thirty. 

 That, I think, covers about all we have. Now that we are on this point, 

 I would say that we have sent out to individuals in all parts of the state, 

 from year toyenr, commencing back in — I think Prof. Bailey commenced 

 this in 1S87 or 1888, and we have sent out since that time, counting all 

 the tree fruits, as many as 100 varieties, two trees of a kind, to these 

 different people. We have now over 100 sub-testing fruit stations, 

 besides others who are testing small fruits and vegetables. 



Mr. Morrill: Gentlemen, we have heard something about the work 

 going on at the horticultural stations of two states, the two, perhaps, 

 better than any others in the Union ; but we have with us here today Prof. 

 McCluer of the experimental station of Illinois, at Champlain. Illinois 

 is a great fruitgrowing state, and the people of all others who get in our 

 way in the Chicago market. I would like to hear from Prof. McCluer, 

 and he can give us some idea of what they are doing. 



Prof. McCluer: I am not prepared to give figures, though I think it 

 is safe to say that at least, in one line, we are ahead of either New York 

 or Michigan. Our university began, in 1869, planting varieties of apple 

 tree, planting nearly everything they could get hold of, and we have on 

 the list of varieties planted at that time, from 1809 to 1871, 1,298 names. 

 That does not mean 1,298 varieties, because there are many duplications. 

 I found that we had Red Astrachan under seven different names, and in 

 many instances there are two or three or more names for one variety. 

 Since then, we have planted 300 more varieties of apple tree. Of grnpes 

 we have planted 150 varieties; of raspberries and blackberries, five 

 Plums and peaches — well, we haven't more than a dozen varieties of 

 peach, and we don't do much with quinces or cherries. This is all on 

 varieties. I would like to say, that, as to the good results from a number 

 of varieties tested, it is something uncertain. There are local conditions 

 tlmt affect the fruit. The conditions under which one variety does well, 

 will not suit another, even in the same orchard; for instance, we had 

 Benoni planted, and the only record we have is that it was planted and 

 died; we have it in another orchard, where it did well. Then, in that old 

 orchard, if we attempt to make a report, we are not at all sure that we 



