TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION. 
99 
“In making this revision the Chairman of the Committee on Revision has 
availed himself of the experience of his able predecessor, Hon. T. T. L^on, 
and, through correspondence, of many practical pomologists. Many sources 
of information have been sought and repeated efforts have been made to 
secure accurate and conservative opinions on the merits of varieties and their 
adaptability to the several districts. But notwithstanding these efforts the 
Chairman of your Committee is aware that this revision is not without 
defects. 
“The highest aim and desire of your Committee has been to present reliable 
data concerning the behavior of varieties in various sections of our country. 
If this desire has not been realized it has been largely due to the difficulties 
experienced in outlining districts sufficiently homogeneous in soil, climate, 
and other important features, and in securing responses to the numerous in- 
quiries sent out to practical fruit growlers. While these difficulties have been 
quite real, it is yet due the fruit growers to say that they as a class are very 
generous in giving out information gathered through their experience. 
“Actuated by a desire to make the work as reliable as possible and therefore 
a safe guide to planters .and others seeking such information, the work of 
this revision has been done in Washington, where easy access could be had 
to the library and records of the Division of Pomology as well as opportunity 
for frequent consultations with the Pomologist and his corps of assistants. 
All uncertainties of origin, nomenclature, etc., have been carefully investigated 
with a view to arriving at correct conclusions. 
“The general plan of the Catalogue is based on that of its immediate 
predecessor, which was largely the work of that eminent pomolog'ist, the 
former Chairman of your Committee on Revision, Hon. T. T. Lyon, of Michi- 
gan. The districts have been somewhat changed in boundaries and increased 
in numbers in order, if possible, to conform more closely to practical as well 
as scientific principles. The map has also been enlarged and the boundaries 
of the districts made more distinct. 
“In view of the lack of knowledge on the part of any but a resident expert 
concerning the behavior of varieties and the true status of fruit growing in 
that section of our country bordering on the Pacific coast, Prof. E. J. Wickson, 
of the University of California, was appointed by the Pomologist to prepare 
that portion of the Catalogue which is embraced in Districts Nos. 15, 16, 17, 
18 and 19, and this revision is based almost wholly on his report. The thanks 
of your committe are extended to Professor Wickson for his valuable 
services. 
“The list of public spirited fruit growers generously contributing assistance 
is too large to attempt individual acknowledgment, but on behalf of the 
Society and its committee, I feel bound to refer especially to the invaluable 
aid of Colonel Brackett and his able assistant, Mr. William A. Taylor.” 
One of the greatest difficulties experienced in the discharge of my duties as 
your Chairman, has been in securing abundant and reliable data upon which 
to base the revision of the Catalogue. The plan pursued has been sub- 
stantially that followed by my predecessors in the past: That is, in co- 
operation with the several State Chairmen and their sub-committees. But 
this plan would seem to have had its day, and especially now, that the 
Division of Pomology is so efficiently aiding the Society in the performance 
of this important work. It would now seem that we should have a broader 
plan, one that would come in touch with a larger number of practical fruit 
growers in the several states and districts of our country. To this end I 
