Cultivar development and testing has always been an important part of fruit production. In the 1800's special societies were formed just so members could meet and debate the merits of different fruit cultivars. The most famous and long lasting is the American Pomological Society founded in 1848. Early meetings of our own State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania were largely devoted to a discussion of fruit varieties.

The following appeared in the April 1860 issue of The Horticulturist describing the purpose of the society "… The objects of this group are to foster and encourage the introductions of new and desirable varieties of fruit. All such will be accurately described in the proceedings of the Society." (Way, 1985).