I. TESTING FRUITS. 



S. A. BEACH. 



From the very beginning of experiment work at this Station, 

 i. e., since 1882, the testing of varieties of fruits and vegetables 

 has been given considerable prominence here. Because more 

 immediate results may be obtained with vegetables than with 

 fruits, the testing of vegetables was for several years given special 

 attention, and the value of much of the w^ork that was done in 

 this line, notably the investigations concerning corn, beans and 

 tomatoes, soon became widely recognized. Early in the history 

 of the Station the planting of varieties of fruits was begun, and 

 it has been constantly extended till now. The testing of fruits 

 absorbs so much time that with the force at present available for 

 the work but little attention can be given to testing vegetables. 



OBJECT OF THE WORK. 



The principal reasons for continuing the work with testing 

 varieties, as I apprehend them, are: 



First. To give the people of the State a trustworthy and unbi- 

 ased account of the character of the varieties, so far as their 

 record at this Station is concerned, especially comparing recently 

 introduced or little known varieties or novelties, with standard 

 sorts, and calling attention to such of them as appear to be 

 worthy of more extended trial. 



Second. To preserve for future reference a record of all varieties 

 which have been tested together with drawings, photographs, 

 models and herbarium specimens of them. 



Third. To determine the true names of varieties for the many 

 people who make application to the Station for such information 



