338 Report of THE HorticuLtuRAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
apples and in particular that it will in part prevent the enormous 
waste occasioned by continued attempts on the part of the apple- 
grower to grow varieties which are not adapted to the regions in 
which they are planted. The Bulletin answers, as best this Station 
can, the oft asked question —‘“ What varieties of apples shall I 
plant?” 
The basis of what is here presented is Beach’s “ The Apples of 
New York” prepared by this Station and published by the State 
Department of Agriculture. The condensed descriptions are taken 
from the above work as nearly verbatim as the condensed form 
would allow. The notes in the column of remarks, to which 
attention is called as being one of the most valuable features of 
the Bulletin, are either taken word for word or are direct infer- 
ences from the text. Much of the material for “The Apples of 
New York” was obtained through correspondence with apple 
growers in all parts of the State. Much information that was 
given by correspondents in regard to the adaptations and dis- 
tribution of varieties could not be used in the larger work. This 
is being made use of in this bulletin, in making up the list of 
varieties for the several regions outlined. 
THE DISTRIBUTION OF VARIETIES OF ABEEES 
Plants naturally grow in communities. Forests illustrate this. 
Several species having common necessities grow together. But 
in such an association one species is usually most prominent and 
gives its name to a community — oak forests, beech, maple, pine 
and walnut forests, and so on. ‘The natural distribution of one 
or a few species of plants in these communities is suggestive to 
the plant grower. It signifies that Nature governs the distribution 
of all plants, wild or domesticated, according to their vital neces- 
sities; it justifies the presumption that for each species of plants 
there is a set of conditions best suited to it. 
In agriculture it has come to be a matter of common knowledge 
that success with any crop depends largely upon its being grown 
in an environment preeminently well suited to it. Distinct 
classes of farming land, or distinct sets of conditions, are being 
devoted, more and more, to special crops. It is true, however, 
