344 ANNUAL REPORT 



fcired fruits tested, as to their quality, adaptability and hardiness, and 

 also desired the results to be made known generally for the benefit of 

 those who would plant; but in looking for these reports it would be 

 well to bear in mind that for most fruits a series of experiments, ex- 

 tending over several years, may be necessary to establish their value. 

 If results are given by only one experimenter there is room for doubt 

 whether a thing may succeed or fail when tried by another in a differ- 

 ent locality, unless all the conditions are understood in making the 

 tests. It is therefore suggested that the Society establish some system 

 of uniformity of work among the stations, in pairs, or among a greater 

 number, if a larger range is desired for any specialty 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION AT ROCHESTER. 



By A. W. Sias, Superintendent. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society : 



We have now sixteen experimental stations and are anxious for 

 more providing there is another man in the State who is so heavily 

 laden with love for the business that he is willing to " work for noth- 

 ing and board himself," as Brother Dartt said in reference to extend- 

 ing the borders and increasing the laboring force of the Olmsted 

 €ounty Horticultural Society. In common warfare, volunteers make 

 the best soldiers, while those who enlist for fame or money make the 

 best thieves. Now in this battle for the " coming winter apple" and 

 the amelioration of other fruits, we want superintendents that will 

 work hard for the love they bear the cause, whether paid or not, and 

 leave the responsibility for short comings and poor work at the door 

 of the State legislature. 



Our last report shows only seven superintendents heard from. 

 What does this mean, unless it is that it takes money to make the 

 mare go? The majority of these superintendents are men of limited 

 means, and cannot be expected to put much time into experimental 

 work without a reasonable compensation. 0. M. Lord struck the 

 ** key note " when he made the suggestion that the superintendent at 

 each station be given a specialty for which he was best adapted. For 

 instance, give the superintendent at the State University farm a 

 branch of work that requires the deepest scientific research; 0. M. 

 Lord the development of our native plums; Peter M. Gideon to con- 

 tinue the grand work left by Dr. Van Mons, whose "nurseries con- 



