Need of Fruit Judging Course. 25 



some come from sections of the state where the amount of fruit which 

 can be grown is very limited, but I dare say that there is not a farm in 

 Nebraska, which if properly cared for, would not support a fair crop of 

 strawberries, grapes, and currants. Men who are interested in fruit are 

 widening the fruit belt year by year, and good fruit is bciiig produced 

 in sections of the state where we formerly supposed it impossible to 

 grow such crops. Who is responsible for this advance? Is it the man 

 who has never had a desire to grow good fruit, who knowi nothing 

 about the possibilities he can expect? By no manrer of means. It is 

 the man who is thoroughly ac'iueinted with fruit, the man who is a 

 competent judge, who knows g^od fruit ar:d lias a desire to produce 

 the best. 



It has occurred to the writer that the average teacher of horticult- 

 ure attaches altogether too little importance to familiarizing the student 

 with the best varieties of fruits. 



As was said before, the idea did not originate with the writer. It 

 v.! as suggested by some of the older members of the society and at our 

 last meeting the president made a few fitting remarks on the subject. 

 During the course of his remarks he pointed out the value he had re- 

 ceived from such training. He said that for years he was an exhibitor 

 at the fairs and failed to take any premiums because he did not know 

 what good fruit was, because he did not understand the judging. Now 

 since he has become familiar with fruit, better acquainted with varieties 

 and with methods of exhibiting, we all know he carries off his share of 

 the prizes. 



In considering a question like this, it is a good plan to put our- 

 selves in the position of the student for a while and see if we can trace 

 out where our interest was first awakened in growing fruit. 



There is no question but that the work could be made the most 

 attractive course in the whole agriculture curriculum. It has been the 

 experience of the writer in giving what might be called an introduction 

 to such work, our exercise on scoring fruits, that the boys are generally 

 on hand. If the horticultural work should begin to drag, announce 

 that the next exercise will be on the scoring and describing ol ai)ples, 

 and then count the absent marks in your class roll. We need not argue 

 the question whether or not the students wnnt such work. There are, 

 however, difficulties in introducing such a course. The course would 

 hrave to be given in the winter and this W'.iuld greatly lessen the nun- 

 ber of fruits which would be available, thoug'i it wouid be porsible to 

 get apples, pears, plums, grapes, and the citrous fruits; also nearly all 

 the nuts are obtainable at that time of year. 



With proper conveniences it is possible to grow strawberries so as 

 to have them readv for use while the school is in session. Preserved 



