The Horticultural Division. 

 Comparison oj New and Old Varieties of Fruits. 



All the new varieties of fruits, both large and small, that are 

 recommended as of value are obtained by purchase from the orig- 

 inator or introducer as soon as they are put on the market, or are 

 received from the originator with restrictions as to dissemination. 

 The former is preferred, in order that we may have the right to 

 distribute without conditions such varieties as seem valuable among 

 the fruit-growers of the State for further trial under different con- 

 ditions of soil and exposure. Careful examination of all these 

 varieties is made as to growth, freedom from disease, quality, etc., 

 and records are made from time to time during the season, using 

 the older varieties for comparison. 



At present there are growing on the college grounds about — 



100 varieties of apples. 



40 varieties of pears. 



38 varieties of plums. 



16 varieties of cherries. 



20 varieties of peaches. 

 G varieties of quinces. 

 130 varieties of grapes. 



120 vai'ieties of strawberries (excluding all the older sorts that have no 

 marked characteristics that make them valuable for comparison). 



15 varieties of currants. 



12 varieties of gooseberries. 



Few of the new varieties of the large fruits show marked im- 

 provement over the older standard sorts, although some very prom- 

 ising additions have been made. 



It is hardly possible to report definitely as to the value of the 

 above in the time the work has been in operation, but among the 

 small fruits more positive results have been reached. 



Grapes. — Among the grapes we would mention as especially 

 valuable varieties the following : Winchell (or Green Mountain) — 

 This is the earliest grape of good quality we have tested ; it ripens 

 with or a little before the Moore's Early and fully a week before 

 the Concord and Delaware, and is much better in quality than 

 either of the first two ; the berry is medium in size, the bunch 

 medium to large and greenish-yellow in color ; the vine is, thus 

 far, hardy, fairly vigorous and productive. Peabody — This va- 

 riety has fruited two seasons in the vineyard here, and is one of 

 the most promising black grapes in the collection ; the berrj' is 

 black, covered with an abundant bloom, of medium to large size ; 



