The Ideal and the Real in Hobticulture. 225 



The ideal results of horticultural occupation are often in ad- 

 vance of facts. The labor of years in this pursuit, if well directed, 

 may reasonably be expected to yield some return ; but the draw- 

 backs are so numerous that, especially here in the northwest, dis- 

 aster frequently overtakes success even in our most fruitful 

 seasons. An immense apple crop was grown last season, but how 

 few, comparatively, have realized any profit therefrom, especially 

 in Wisconsin. The best fall apples were sold for ten cents per 

 bushel, and many given away freely. Some people complained 

 of these prices, they always do when products are abundant. It 

 was often remarked we have too many fall apples, too few cider 

 mills and fruit driers. Only the expert, whose orchard had a good 

 percentage of winter fruit, has the chance of realizing from last 

 year's crop, and his profits may be small. Speaking of profit, I 

 am inclined to think that in years of general failure in fruit crops 

 the fruit grower realizes his greatest returns; certainly he often 

 has choice fruit when others have none. The exercise of sound 

 judgment in determining the vegetable crops of a garden, and 

 the quantity of each it is desirable to produce in a season, in 

 view of the probable market value, is of the greatest importance. 

 Successful operations in horticulture are more frequently chroni- 

 cled than failures, and beginners do not often see mistakes until 

 reminded by disastrous experience. 



Some years ago a novice embarked quite extensively in market 

 gardening where the local market was not extensive. His garden 

 was well cultivated and his crops good. His estimate was that 

 his onions, three acres, would certainly pay all expenses of the 

 garden, leaving his immense crop of beets, carrots, cabbages, and 

 some strawberries, for margins. Onions had for several years pre- 

 vious been tending downward in price, but he paid no attention 

 to that fact. They were a drug in market that season, and, after 

 much tribulation, the bulk of the crop was shipped to a southern 

 city, with the confident expectation that when the freedmen began 

 to nibble those onions a quick sale would be the result; but after 

 a long delay returns came in the shape of a request for a remit- 

 tance of forty dollars to cover expenses of transportation, commis- 

 sion, etc. This result struck our friend as forcibly as a sudden 



15 — Hort. 



