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Wisconsin Statb Horticultural Society. 



the characteristics of the different varieties of fruits. Each one 

 may be the best under some peculiar circumstances, but all are 

 not equally good under our own circumstances. No general 

 directions can be given which will be a safe guide for all to fol- 

 low, but each one of us bns much to learn, which we can only 

 find out for ourselves. 



I shall have accomplished my purpose, if I bat quicken ob- 

 servation on these points, for I have been deeply impressed, for 

 a few years past, with the importance of studying carefully the 

 adaptations of fruits and varieties to localities, even to the varying 

 localities which may be found on any farm of forty acres, or even 

 within the area of a common vegetable garden. There is no 

 doubt a best place in every garden for each variety of seed, as 

 there is a best place on the farm for every crop which it is at all 

 difficult to raise. In planting so small a patch as a garden, he is 

 but a dull gardener who does not feel that there is a fitness of 

 place for each particular thing, and who does not study to dis- 

 cover such place, and so avail himself of all possible advantages. 



Plants whose perfection lies in their succulence, like lettuce, 

 cabbage, cauliflower, etc., must have the richest spot assigned to 

 them ; poorer ground, if it cannot be made rich, will do for peas, 

 beans, corn and such products as may possess their intrinsic qual- 

 ities, though of but moderate growth. A rich spot, free from the 

 seeds of weeds, must be selected for onions, beets and such things 

 as are cultivated in close rows. It will be found, even then, that 

 the conflict with weeds will be a formidable one. I do not won- 

 der that people believe in the spontaneous generation of weeds ; 

 such a theory seems necessary sometimes to account for their ex- 

 cessive numbers on ground which we supposed to be clean. One 

 place will be favorable for the early things, another for the same 

 things planted later for a succession. If we look through the re- 

 mains of almost any ruined orchard, we will find that some of the 

 trees have survived and have borne profitable crops of fruit. We 

 cannot always tell fully what makes the difference. Sometimes 

 we can see that it was owing to better drainage, better protection 

 or no protection, better soil, or a better variety, but sometimes the 

 reason is not apparent. We may be sure, however, that the tree 



