101 
■blight-resistant stocks. We iDelieve that one of 
the first steps should te the location of all 
available material in this country that is 
definitely known to te a true Pyrus ussuriensis 
and P. caller^'-ana , and to take steps for the 
rapid propagation of iDoth of these species as 
early as practicable. To this end we have taken 
steps to locate all introductions of Pyrus from 
the Orient, with a view to following them up and 
knov/ing their true relationships. We are not 
entirely clear as to whether there is likely to 
he any great demand for the stocks. We are in- 
clined to believe that the method of utilizing 
a blight -resistant body as a sort of sub- 
structure for the rest of the tree needs to be 
given careful study in many parts of the country. 
The use of a blight-resistant sub-structure may 
prove advantageous in sections of the West, 
especially of the Northwest, where Prof. Reimer 
is. nov; located, but it is a question as to whether 
the use of such methods in the East and South 
would be of any material advantage. We believe 
that it is highly important that all the cultivated 
strains of P. ussuriensis and P. calleryana should 
be thoroughly tested out here, "both as to blight 
resistance and fruiting value. 
As you know. Dr. Van Fleet is now at Vfork on 
the hybridization of the pear, with a viev; to see- 
ing if he can secure something in the way of a good 
fi'uiting variety that will have blight resistance. 
If P. Ussuriensis , especially the cultivated forms 
which you sent in last winter, manifests blight 
resistance we will have made quite a long step in 
giving Dr. Van Fleet a start over the ordinary 
species, with its very small, insignificant fruit. 
We are planning, therefore, to put into Dr. Van 
Fleet's hands next spring grafting wood of all the 
cultivated forms of P. ussuriensis that you have 
sent In. If you send any more in this year, and 
if you send any P. calleryana , as you indicate in 
your letter, these will be included in the work 
planned for Dr. Van Fleet. By grafting wood from 
seedlings grown this year into old trees, either 
here or at Chico, we can probably get flowers of 
the P. ussuriensis types soon, perhaps the second 
year. 
Speaking of Dr. Van Fleet brings up the very 
interesting work he is now doing in connection 
December 31. 191?. 
