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PRESIDENT FARQUHAR. Ladies and Gentlemen, I 

 have much pleasure in announcing the lecturer of the day, 

 Mr. Samuel Fraser of Geneseo, New York, who will speak 

 to us on "Planting Fruit Trees propagated from strains of 

 known worth." Mr. Fraser is an orchardist of reputation 

 and one of the most successful, and I am sure we will be edi- 

 fied by what he shall tell us today. (Applause). 

 PLANTING FRUIT TREES FROM STRAINS OF KNOWN 



WORTH. 

 Mr. Samuel Fraser, Geneseo, N. Y. 



In speaking to this heading I am aware of the fact that 

 I am on dangerous ground. The problems connected with 

 the propagation of trees are feebly understood and the se- 

 lection of indivduals for the purpose of reproduction is on no 

 statistical basis. In other words, we have very little data 

 either for or against any such policy, but it seems to me it 

 is necessary that we begin at least to inquire as to the merits 

 of the situation, whether there is any possibility for improve- 

 ment along this line, or whether it is merely the theory of a 

 few imaginative minds. The idea has been discussed for 

 several years. We find it in horticultural literature as far 

 back as 30 years ago, that there was something in the selec- 

 tion of buds or grafts from individual trees which were pro- 

 ducing large yields or were favorable in other respects. 

 Before I go further I would like to make myself clear so that 

 I can get out of the hole, if I need to, should I be found to 

 be in it. I claim, therefore, that in anything I say, I be ac- 

 corded the same privilege as the railroad time table, subject 

 to change without notice. In other words, our information 

 is at present feeble and weak, but we are looking for more 

 and expect to find it and should we later find it necessary to 

 modify our views we shall do so in accord with the increased 

 weight of evidence. 



Our methods with fruit, at the present time, are much 

 the same as those of the farmers in regard to such plants as 

 timothy, clover and various grasses which are used in our 

 pastures and meadows. One goes to the seed store and pur- 



