6 PREFATORY STATEMENT. 



its highest quahty, while yet another will carefully consider a combi- 

 nation of qualities, such as hardiness of tree or plant, its fruitfulness 

 under varying conditions, etc., yet the rating of each must be given 

 as identical in lists like these. 



The general plan of this catalogue is that of its predecessors that 

 were evolved during many years of intelligent, patient labor by men 

 like Wilder, Downing, Thomas, Barry, and Lyon, to whom we owe 

 debts of .gratitude. In consequence of the growth and development 

 of our country, as well as of the greater number of varieties now cul- 

 tivated and the rapidly expanding industry of fruit growing, a stead- 

 ily increasing list of varieties forces itself upon us. What are there- 

 fore really select lists of fruits become apparently lengthy, but in 

 fact are not, since the varieties embraced in this catalogue actually 

 constitute eighteen separate lists. It will be seen, however, that 

 many varieties are only recommended ''for further trial," thus indi- 

 cating that they should be planted with proper caution. 



As heretofore. Prof. E. J. Wickson, of the University of California, 

 has had much to do with the preparation of the lists for the Pacific 

 Coast States, though a large number of individual fruit growers liv- 

 ing within that territory have been freely consulted. 



Respectfully submitted: 



W. H. Ragan, Chairman, 



Office of Pomological Collections, 



Washington, B.C., February 19, 1909. 



151 



