REPORT OF THE POMOLOGIST. 



Sir: I liave the honor to hereby present the report of the Division 

 of Pomology, giving a synopsis of its work from its establishment un- 

 til the present time. The act of Congress which created it took effect 

 on Jnly 1, 1886, and my appointment as chief dates from that dayi 

 As this work is new and imtried, so far as the Department is con- 

 cerned, except that which Mr, William Saunders, Superintendent of 

 the Gardens and Grounds, has done voluntarily, and without the aid of 

 an appropriation, there has been no precedent to follow or established 

 line of action to which I might conform my labors. I cannot say less 

 than that I feel highly honored in having been chosen to conduct this 

 work, and its responsibilities are deeply felt by me. The fruit-grow- 

 ing industry of the United States, from all that we can gather by the 

 crude and inefficient means at hand, amounts to between two and 

 three hundred millions of dollars annually. It is estimated by sev- 

 eral careful observers that there is at least as much more in value 

 lost by insect depredations, by mistakes made in planting unsuitable 

 varieties, and in ignorantly caring for the fruit-bearing trees, vines, 

 and plants of the United States, a great share of which might be saved 

 by our people with comparatively little outlay of means and labor if 

 intelligently applied. To gather such information and distribute it 

 xS certainly within the legitimate province of this division, and is one 

 of the main points towards which we hope to make progress. It is 

 with pleasure that I have begun this work, which accords so well with 

 my feelings and my chosen life-work, because I find the pomologists 

 and horticulturists all over the country bidding me good cheer. Very 

 many_ of the leading iruit-groAvers and life-long experimenters in 

 practical pomology, as well as those of a more scientific turn, have 

 given me much encouragement by offering their grounds and personal 

 labors to help on the work. 



The heads of the experimental departments of all the agricultural 

 colleges \ isited or corresponded with, have been equally favorable and 

 generous. The various rural papers of the country have also offered 

 their services. 



Considerable work has been done in the way of gathering speci- 

 mens of fruits and making drawings and accurate descriptions of the 

 same for future use by the Department. Many orchards, vineyards, 

 and experimental grounds have been visited, and information gath- 

 ered by myself from personal observation. 



THE FUTURE OP THE DIVISION. 



Now that the division has been established, it is hoped that some- 

 thing of permanent value for the fruit-growers of the entire country 

 may be done, although the present appropriation will not permit the 

 consummation or even the introduction of plans that must be carried 

 into effect if the division shall fully serve the purpose for which it 

 was instituted. 



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