STATE HORTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 45 



Now, the object of our discussion to-day is, not to increase the 

 number and l)eauty of the blossoms — we will leave that to the flor- 

 ists — but to increase the numljer and saleability of the pears. The 

 way to do that is to make a special study of pears. We must have 

 as great a succession cf fruits as possible, and ship as continuously 

 as we can, to keep the income flowing in; for noiu' of us like to run 

 short of money. The men and teams accomplish more in this way, 

 and there will be less idle time. Hut the succession must be so 

 planned that different varieties' and crops will not clash. For if the 

 asparagus is going to waste while the tomatoes are being set in the 

 field; or the curculios are spoiling the peaches while the help are 

 picking the strawberries; or the early apples and the blackberries in- 

 terfere, then we have too many irons in the fire, and it would be 

 better to have one or two less. We must at times concentrate. 



I have assumed so far that all soils and cultivators are alike, 

 which supposition is not quite correct. For the soil in a neighbor- 

 hood, and not infrequently on the same farm, may be entirely differ- 

 ent, and each adapted to a special crop. The deep soil of Michigan, 

 that grows the celebrated celery, in all probability wouldn't grow 

 sweet potatoes worth digging. The methods and qualifications of 

 men are just as diversified as their soil. 



It is said that a good cook, of necessity, is one who enjoys good 

 victuals, otherwise he couldn't mix in the right proportions, the ex- 

 quisite flavorings that enter into the dishes that delight the palate. 

 So with a specialist in fruit. He must know the right pro])ortion of 

 sweet and sour, of acid and sub-acid, and of color that charm the 

 taste and please the eye. He must, by special care and study, pro- 

 duce the specimens and varieties that combine these characteristics, 

 together with size and carrying (pialities. Nor is this all. He must 

 devise new and cheap methods of planting, cultivating and harvest- 

 ing, even to the invention of new machinery. In this way he is 

 sure to achieve success, for he decreases his expenses and increases 

 his receipts. 



One could grow a dozen kinds of fruit and be considered suc- 

 cessful; that is, make money on all. But suppose that while grow- 

 ing the twelve, he selects one and gives it closer care than the others; 

 studies its requirements and brings it up to a higher point of excel- 

 lence. A miller, recognizing the value of this idea, made a specialty 

 of a choice grade of flour. He studied, perfected his plans and ma- 

 chinery until he could place a su])erior article on the market eheaper 

 than his competitors could an inferior one, and became a millionaire. 



I was on South Water street, Chicago, last Septeml)er, when 

 each commission house was selling a thousand baskets of peaches 

 daily, the great majority of which were sold for thirty-five or forty 

 cents. 1 desired a basket to take home, and they recommended a 

 certain brand at seventy-five cents^ as being of an honest, uniform 

 quality of both fruit and packing. I did not regret my purchase. 



