Chase, R: Descriptive Catalogue of Nursery Stock

Excerpt from Descriptive Catalogue of Nursery Stock: The R. G. Chase Company, the Chase Nurseries, Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y

It is with pleasure that we present a new edition of our Descriptive Catalogue. Under their respective heads will be found descriptions of several new varieties that have been introduced since our last edition.

Every year we have many new varieties of fruits brought to our attention, believed by their owners to be something superior. The great majority of these we find upon investigation to be of no particular value, or at least no improvement on the varieties we already have. Realizing, however, that with many of our fruits there is ample room for improvement, and that the true course is onward and upward, we aim to examine as carefully as practicable any fruit that is brought to our attention.

We first consider the fruit as to its quality, appearance, season of ripening, etc, to see if it equals or excels the varieties we already have ripening at the same time. If the field it would have to occupy is filled with sorts in every respect giving perfect satisfaction, we are apt to follow the old adage, Let well enough alone. On the other hand, if the fruit has some striking characteristic that forces itself on our atten tion and appears to have real and distinctive merit and apparently is a decided acquisition, we at once try to inform ourselves as to the habit of the tree or vine. It must be a vigorous grower, hardy, healthy, belong to a healthy and long-lived race, and must be an early and an abundant bearer. Many a fruit of fine quality is worthless for general cultivation, owing to the weak constitution of the tree or vine.

The general planters, the great mass who are putting out fruits for profit, require sorts with iron constitutions, those kinds that will thrive in a great variety of soils and situations, and yield some fruit under neglect.

When we do meet a new variety that appears in all respects to fill the bill, to be a fruit of real merit, one more important consideration presents itself. Though appar ently a good thing, has it sufficient elements of popularity to warrant us in going to the great expense consequent to getting up a stock of the same and properly bringing its merits before the public? The investment will run into hundreds, perhaps thou sands, of dollars, and it will be from two to five years before we can expect substantial returns.

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