THE PKOGKESS OF FRUIT CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 157 



THE PROGRESS OF FRUIT CULTURE IN THE 

 UNITED STATES. 



A paper read before the Royal Horticultural Society on August 15, 1905. By Herbert 

 J. Webber, Physiologist, in Charge of Plant Breeding Laboratory, Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, Department of Agriculture, U.S.A. 



FEATUEES OF AMERICAN FRUIT CULTURE. 



American fruit culture had its beginning in the introduction of fruit from 

 Europe, the early settlers importing those fruits with which they were 

 familiar in their old homes, from various parts of Europe. During the 

 several centuries through which their cultivation has been extended, these 

 imported fruits have gradually given way to varieties bred in America 

 which are better suited to American conditions. While originally all of 

 our varieties of Apples were of European origin, as early as 1817 it was 

 estimated that over 60 per cent, of the Apples recommended for cultivation 

 here were of American origin : that is, American-grown seedlings from the 

 original stock. At the present time a far larger percentage than the above 

 of our varieties are American productions. Bailey estimated that in 1895 

 fully 90 per cent, of the Apples most popular in the Atlantic States were 

 raised in America. The same increase of American varieties has taken 

 place also in the case of Pears and other fruits. As early as 1853, Hovey 

 wrote : " It is certainly somewhat remarkable, as well as surprising, that in 

 the course of twenty-four years a larger number of really fine Pears have 

 been brought to notice, of American origin, than have been introduced 

 from Europe in the same time, or, we think we may safely add, in the last 

 fifty years." In all other fruits this gradual supplanting of introduced 

 European varieties by American-bred ones has been taking place. As the 

 settlers spread west from the seaboard into the interior, the varieties 

 grown in eastern localities that proved successful were taken with them, 

 and then again a similar change became necessary. It was found that 

 the Apples best adapted for cultivation in the Eastern States were not 

 fully adapted for cultivation in the central prairie regions of the West. 

 Here again the gradual displacement of introduced varieties by home- 

 produced ones has been taking place ever since the beginning of fruit 

 culture. 



An interesting feature which has been clearly brought out in connection 

 with the importation and trial of new varieties, is the fact that the grea 

 eastern region of the United States — that portion lying east of the Rocky 

 Mountains — is more like Eastern Asia than Western Europe in its 

 requirements, resembling the former region in rainfall, temperature, 

 and seasonal conditions. Accordingly the varieties of fruit which have 

 been imported from Eastern Asia are found to be better adapted to 

 the conditions of growth in this eastern part of the United States than 

 those from Western Europe. On the other hand, the section of the 

 United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains, generally known 



