Winter Meetins:. 241 



•^is 



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 sug-gested that there was a difference be- 

 tween 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 venation 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 be- 

 tween diff'erent 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 w^as no difference 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 in autumn. 



Specimens of Black Ben Davis and Gano were taken to Wash- 

 ington by two members of the committee and submitted to test by the 

 pojnologist and his staff on March 3d, 1903. This staff of officials 

 comprised Col. Brackett, Pomologist; Wm. A. Taylor, Pomologist 

 in charge of field investigations ; G. Harrold Powell, H. P. Gould 

 and AV. P. Corsa, assistant pomologists, and Allen Dodge of the 

 clerical force. 



The fruit was examined and tested by each of the above men 

 separately. Neither the identity of the two lots of apples nor the 

 opinions expressed by others concerning them were known to the 

 examiners ; though the conditions surrounding the growth and sub- 

 sequent conditions of storage were explained to them. 



It was the opinion of the staff, with one exception, that the two 

 lots were one and the same variety. Mr. Dodge of the clerical force 

 expressed the opinion that the lot marked (Gano) contained specimens 

 of slightly 'firmer texture and of slightly greater acidity, which might 

 be due to the varietal differenc'^. In other respects he also pro- 

 nounced them to be the same. 



The committee secured this opinion from what should no doubt 

 be considered the highest source of opinion in such matters in the 

 country, not to any way bias the opinion of the committee, but in 

 order to present the strongest possible evidence that could be se- 

 cured from a test of the fruit alone. 



After fmdinsf no differences, either in the fruit or in the trees 

 by which they can be separated, your committee is forced to conclude 



H— 16 



