PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 



By WILLIAM A. TAYLOR, 

 Pomologist in Charge of Field Investigations. Bureau of Plant Industry. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Among fruit growers interest in new fruits is perennial. The high 

 prices at which judiciously advertised novelties in nursery stock are 

 >old in large numbers each year testify to this. And while a large 

 proportion of the sorts that receive wide notice from year to year drop 

 nit of sight soon after the self-interest of the introducers ceases to 

 ieep them before the public, many find lasting places of usefulness 

 11 localities where their special adaptability to local environment is 

 proved by test. It is therefore well that new sorts shall continue to 

 >e tested by fruit growers from time to time, even in advance of their 

 Commercial introduction, for in no other way can rapid, continuous 

 mprovement in the character of the fruits of any region be accom- 

 plished. 



Improved cultural treatment, including judicious fertilizing, tilling, 

 pruning, and spraying, may accomplish much, but the best attention 

 ;o any or all of these points fails to secure the desired economic end 

 )f largest yield and highest quality at least cost of labor, time, and 

 iioney unless the effort is made upon varieties adapted to the local 

 environment and which yield fruit suited to the purpose .for which 

 ;he product is to be used. 



It is therefore advisable for growers to keep themselves informed 

 egarding the more promising varieties of the fruits in which they 

 ire personalty interested, and especial!}* such as give evidence of 

 laving attracted attention through inherent merit, rather than 

 through lavish praise by originators or introducers, for it is usually 

 unong such that the permanent improvements over previously exist- 

 ng varieties are found. A few fruits of this character that have 

 reached the office of the Pomologist recently are described and illus- 

 rated in this paper. 



The newness of some of the fruits mentioned rests rather upon the 

 J act that they have hitherto had only local or, at most, restricted rep- 

 itation, than upon recent origin. But they are believed to be none 

 :he less promising to the general fruit grower 011 that account. The 

 ? act of long test of such sorts in the localities of their origin or 



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