REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURAL 
DEPARTMENT. 
eee bo Ol APPEES: PORe NEW: “YORK:* 
a 
Mea RICK, N2O) BOOTH Any: Os TAYLOR: 
“What varieties shall I plant?” There is no question more often 
asked by fruit growers. Vast amounts of time and money are 
wasted in the indiscriminate testing of varieties. For most part in 
the apple industry the value of varieties has had to be deter- 
mined by actual plantings made by the fruit grower. It requires 
a long period of years to test apples and with the many sorts 
offered, individual efforts in this direction are ineffectual, and 
are most burdensome. So the work of testing varieties has been 
largely, and rightfully, delegated to the experiment stations. But it 
is impossible for an experiment station, even after the most care- 
ful tests on its own grounds, to tell in advance what particular 
varieties of a fruit are adapted to any one man’s conditions. An 
experiment station can be helpful in this respect only by a broad 
and careful study of the distribution and behavior of varieties 
under as many different conditions as possible, and by an intimate 
first hand knowledge of them on its own grounds, after which it 
ought to be able at least to limit the choice in any locality. 
It is the purpose of this bulletin: First, to catalogue the apples 
that are grown or have originated in New York. Second, to de- 
scribe briefly the sorts listed. Third, to define the several dis- 
tinct horticultural belts in the State and to name the varieties of 
apples. that can be most successfully grown in each. It is hoped 
that the bulletin will serve as a guide to those who are planting 

*A reprint of Bulletin No. 275. 
22 
