THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



A variety is not sufficiently well described to make it worth 

 buying unless the merits and faults of the plant as well as of the 

 product are depicted. In particular, the adaptabilities of a variety 

 to soils and climates and its immunities to insects and fungi should 

 be known before it is largely planted. 



One should look with suspicion on varieties which are advertised 

 as surpassing their kind in all respects. Most novelties, even the 

 most worthy, are superior in but one of a few respects ; as, in pro- 

 longing the season, in improvement of quality, in meeting some new 

 climatic condition, in adaptability for some particular use, or, and 

 most frequently, because of greater productiveness. 



Varieties of worth may be more commonly expected in fruits 

 domesticated but a short time, and therefore little improved, than 

 in species long under cultivation and much improved ; thus, Ameri- 

 can species of grapes give more new varieties than the Old World 

 species ; American plums are more variable than those of Europe ; 

 American raspberries, blackberries and strawberries are prolific 

 of new sorts ; the apple, quince, pear, cherry and peach, all old 

 types, are relatively stable. 



Old varieties are often reintroduced as novelties because of a 

 variation of the type brought about by local influence ; thus, the 

 Green Newton of the Hudson, the Yellow Newton of Hood River, 

 the Albemarle Pippin of Virginia, and the Five-Crowned Pippin 

 of Australia, differ in all these regions ; but brought together in 

 any one place, all are the same. 



It is best, if possible, to buy new fruits from the originator or 

 introducer as these men are most likely to have the variety true to 

 name, and, moreover, most deserve to reap the reward for bring- 

 ing forth the novelty. 



In concluding this phase of my subject, then, I hope that we can 

 all agree that connoisseurs and amateur fruit growers want new 

 varieties and many varieties for their gardens. They grow fruit 

 for the love of the work. To them the orchard often exists for 

 the new and rare things that they can put in it. Such fruit grow- 

 ing is a pleasant diversion and, in a broad way, a profitable one, 

 through the knowledge obtained of varieties, for all planters of 

 fruit. It is readily comprehensible that connoisseurs and amateurs 



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