INTKODUCTION. 



9 



but also whether he can place it upon the market at a time when 

 remunerative returns will be reasonably assured. 



It will thus be seen that the success of a variety must be measured 

 by two standards — its ability to develop to a high degree of perfec- 

 tion and its commercial value in terms of profit and loss when placed 

 upon the market. Under the conditions which exist in some par- 

 ticular locality, a variety may reach such a high state of perfection 

 that little else could be desired so far as intrinsic merits are concerned, 

 yet because of its season of ripening, lack of transportation facilities, 

 or some other cause apart from the inherent qualities of the fruit 

 itself it fails to yield a profitable financial return when offered for 

 sale in the open market. While such a variety would be considered 

 successful so far as its growth is concerned, it is at the same time 

 unsuccessful as a commercial sort under these conditions, because it 

 fails to meet the end desired of it. In some other locality where the 

 opposing features do not exist it might yield a satisfactory financial 

 gain, and hence be successful from a commercial standpoint. 



A similar parallel might be drawn in regard to a variety intended 

 for home use. However well the tree may grow or the fruit develop, 

 if it fails for any reason to meet the desired end it can not properly 

 be considered a successful variety to grow for that purpose. 



In the varietal notes on later pages the necessary distinctions rela- 

 tive to what constitutes the ^'success" of a variety are made. 



Many illustrations might be given of the fact mentioned in our 

 initial statement that the conditions under which a variety of fruit 

 is grown have a decided influence upon its behavior and value, and 

 consequently upon its desirabihty for a given purpose, but the fore- 

 going is sufficient to explain the nature of fruit district investiga- 

 tions. Their object is obvious. Briefly summarized, they are an 

 effort to ascertain the limitations within which fruit varieties may 

 be profitably planted, as indicated by the manner in which they 

 respond to the influences of their environment, an effort to determine 

 the adaptability of different varieties to different conditions and 

 combinations of conditions. 



It is not sufficient, however, to know merely that a certain variety 

 is successful or unsuccessful, as the case may be, in a certain place. 

 It is equally necessary to know, in as much detail as practicable, 

 what the exact conditions are under which it is grown and to deter- 

 mine with all possible accuracy what each factor contributes to the 

 success or the failure of the variety in question. This involves con- 

 sideration of slope, soil, elevation (both actual and comparative), 

 , temperature, humidity, and all the other factors included in the term 

 "climate,'' besides such other incidental or local conditions as may 

 influence varieties in any way. The aim of these investigations is to 



135 



