DEVELOPING HARDY FRUITS. 85 



It is this, that if there is a variation under climatic condition to any 

 practical extent, add those little variations constantly for a long series of 

 years, a number of generations, and may we not get a very substantial 

 change, making a new adaptation for climatic influences? 



The Chairman I think that is what we will have to do. I think it 

 is the solution of it. I cannot see anything else. I know it, and you 

 know it too. You take our potatoes. We bring them from Maine to get 

 them early. You take Early Rose and bring them from Connecticut. 

 Your Maine potatoes will rot. 



Secretary Barron Speaking about potatoes, there is a problem in 

 adaptation to climate, if you compare the American varieties with the 

 European varieties. You take the American varieties of Solatium tubero- 

 sum across the ocean, and all through Europe they flourish amazingly ; but 

 you take the European type, the English varieties over here, and you are 

 lucky if you harvest the weight of your seed. Dr. Hexamer made ex- 

 tensive experiments one year. He gathered in Europe every French, 

 Irish and English variety he could get. He planted them and could get 

 nothing at all. I have tried the same thing myself with European varieties 

 and it utterly failed every time, yet I know for a fact the other side of 

 the case is all right. 



Mr. Macoun We have some English sorts that have beaten our 

 American ones. We have the Dalmeny Beauty. It is one of their early 

 varieties there and it is doing splendidly. It is among the most produc- 

 tive potatoes we have. We have had it for twenty years. It is one of 

 the best we have and resists blight. We have tried hundreds of varieties 

 from Europe, and as a rule they are as you stated, but there are ex- 

 ceptions to the rule. 



Mr. Munson If 3011 took the European varieties at almost the same 

 latitude as those you have here, then you have made practically no change. 



The Chairman I was going to say that, but I think we all under- 

 stand that very well. 



The time has come for us to close, gentlemen. There are some an- 

 nouncements which the Secretary will make. 



The Secretary then announced the titles of the additional papers on 

 the program which would be taken up at the next session. 



The Secretary also announced a complimentary excursion up the 

 Hudson River, to take place the following day. 



The Conference then adjourned to meet again at 10 A. M., October 

 3rd, at the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Park. 



SECOND SESSION. 



Held in the Museum Building, Xew York Botanical Gar- 

 den, October 3rd, 1907, at 10 A. M., the President, James Wood, 

 presiding. 



