40 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
. 
sistance which it is affording to the fruit-growers of the country in 
stimulating and promoting our pomological industry is timely, and 
that there was need of the establishment of such a branch in the De- 
partment. The division is now well under way, and it only needs a 
requisite encouragement to make it a suce essful and powerful aux- 
iliary to the Department, and to give it a position commensurate 
with the interests which it is supposed to foster. I am glad to note 
that the division is receiving that co-operation from our fruit-raisers 
and from our leading pomological writers which is so desirable in 
the early days of organization. I believe that the division has been 
inaugurated under favorable auspices, and I commend its future to 
the careful consideration of Congress. 
There are statistical and practical facts to be gathered for informa- 
tion; there are new fruits to be found and distributed; there are va- 
rieties to be investigated and their characteristics deseapem there 
are fruits in one section which may be introduced into another sec- _ 
tion with profit; there are methods of culture, of pruning, of general — 
training of fruit trees to be set forth; there are mistaken ideas of sites 
for fruit orchards to be corrected; there are varieties of fruits to be 
classified; the nomenclature of fruits requires attention and study; 
and, in general, there is a vast quantity of valuable information to be 
eprodel abroad. 
The farmer who in these days of competition in one prancn of 
agriculture turns his attention to another product of the farm as a 
source of profit is obeying an economic instinct and keeping step with 
the march of progress. Happily, this idea of diversification leads 
many into the line of fruit-growing. This desire to found an orchard 
on the farm, this purpose to produce fruit in greater abundance, 
should be encouraged in every way, and the latest and best informa- 
tion should be at hand for guidance in right paths and for warnings 
as against wrong ones. J 
A great many inquiries of a pomological nature have been received 
from farmers and other citizens of the country and answered by 
direct correspondence where the reports of the Department would 
not give them the requisite information, and this work i is steadily 
increasing in volume. 
Packages of specimens of fruits have been daily received for iden- 
tification or for comparison and study. These,demand, and have 
received, the personal attention of the Pomologist, and the increasing 
amount of this work requires a corresponding increase of assistance, 
The real service already rendered in this direction is considerable, 
although it has only just begun. 
Accurate records and descriptions are made and kept of all speci- 
mens received, and in many cases drawings and colored illustrations 
are made of such varieties as are new or of special importance. 
These are used for publication in the reports of the division, or are 
