New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STAZION. 353 
Piven COR THE ShVERAL POMOLOGICAL DIS- 
TRIG Bow ten bayvaey (RIC 
A fruit list is an enumeration of the varieties which will thrive 
in a given region. All fruits when grown in different regions 
show variations in size, color, keeping quality and flavor of fruit; 
and in longevity, vigor and productiveness in the tree. Fruit lists 
take into consideration these variations. They show locations of 
dominance of the various varieties ; classify varieties as to their likes 
and dislikes of soils; and indicate the susceptibilities to insect and 
fungus pests. The value of a fruit list is that it enables a fruit- 
grower to specialize more closely —to plant to better advantage. 
Such a list is to some extent an attempt to tell a man in advance 
what to plant. 
A fruit list must not, however, be looked upon as infallible, or 
fixed. Far from it, for we shall never have sufficient knowledge to 
make a perfect list; new and better sorts will continue to appear; 
and lists will always be biased by the prejudices of the man or men 
making them. There is no certainty, either, that a list prepared for 
one region will be adapted to another in which the natural conditions 
seem to be the same. 
For many years the American Pomological Society has issued 
a most serviceable catalogue of the fruits of North America north 
of Mexico. Fruit-growers regard this as the best authority for 
the territory covered as to the adaptability and value of the varieties 
of fruits to different sections. As stated in the last catalogue, “ The 
entire territory is divided into nineteen pomological districts, with 
little regard to State or provincial boundaries, but with primary 
reference to the influence of latitude, elevation, prevailing winds, 
and oceanic and lacustrine exposures upon their adaption to 
pomological pursuits.’ This catalogue, while valuable, is too gen- 
eral. The nineteen large districts need to be subdivided 1f the cata- 
logue is to become of much service to the fruit-grower in the 
selection of varieties for his own locality. 
As a great horticultural State, and because of the diversity of 
its physical features, and by reason of the various atmospheric 
influences to which it is subject, New York is in need of a fruit 
catalogue to serve as a guide in the selection of varieties for the 
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