PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. lY 



HELP FROM EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



Within the last two years, under the influence of a federal enactment 

 with an accompanying appropriation, an extensive system of experiment 

 stations has been brought into existence, with facilities for the thorough 

 testing and characterizing of natives, in the way of both fruits and plants, 

 such as can scarcely be reasonably anticipated from individual effort, 

 since both the person in charge and the government are pledged to the 

 efficient and careful conduct of the experiments, to guard against the 

 pirating of varieties and to carry forward each trial to a finish, whether 

 under the charge of one or a succession of agents, in one or a series of 

 years. 



These stations must, from the circumstances of the case, be unbiased in 

 their conclusion; while it is a duty which they owe to the public, as well 

 as to their own reputation, to keep well up with the novelties introduced 

 and to be introduced, as well as with the most approved system of cultiva- 

 tion and management. 



In order to provide for the widest possible dissemination of the results 

 of their experiments, bulletins are provided, which are distributed free to 

 all who apply. 



With the means for an early and trustworthy determination of the real 

 value of novelties as they appear, as well as of the various processes, both 

 old and new, for the benefit of horticulture, as well as for the extermination 

 of fungi, insects, and all the varied obstacles or enemies which the horti- 

 culturist must be expected to encounter, it would seem to be the dictate of 

 the highest wisdom that the mass of the people should let novelties severely 

 alone till, through the careful investigation of these horticultural labora- 

 tories, the chaff shall have been winnowed out and only the worthy left to 

 invite the desired investment. 



With this purpose realized, the mass of random experiments would find 

 their occupation too unprofitable, and the field would be left clear for 

 those who, from careful and scientific study of the principles involved, 

 may be able to work more clearly and definitely to the desired end; or, by 

 a fuller knowledge of the qualities necessary to a successful result, assure 

 themselves of the propriety of putting their productions before the public. 



PRIVATE EXPERIMENTS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE. 



Mr. Morrill: Is it not a fact that a new variety is now recognized and 

 understood much quicker than it was some years ago? Is there not much 

 more private experimentation? 



Mr. Lyon: Possibly; but such private work may not be disinterested, 

 and be not carefully made. Those in charge of experiment stations should 

 keep in advance and test new varieties before they have been generally 

 distributed. Private tests may be made under peculiarly favorable cir- 

 cumstances, and the varieties tested be successful nowhere else. There- 

 fore, tests by experiment stations are more generally to be relied upon. 



Mr. Rice: There is need of more sub-stations in this state, such as 

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