1883.] EEPORT ON POMOLOGY. 313 



THE AMATEUR FRUIT GARDEN, WITH ADVICE TO PLANTERS. 



The lover of choice fruit, having a given area he desires to plant, 

 begins to speculate, first, as to varieties to choose for his ground. 

 Should he chance to fall in with a tree agent, he would probably 

 be advised to choose certain novelties at high prices, or possibly 

 certain varieties that there is a surplus of in some commercial nur- 

 sery. In either case, he will have nine-tenths to graft over when 

 they come into bearing. There are described, in the various 

 treatises on fruit culture, several hundred different varieties — 

 poor^ good, very good, and test; and those which are marked "best " 

 are often very poorly adapted to certain soils and exposures, and 

 some will surely disappoint the general planter. Again, certain 

 varieties are exhibited at agricultural fairs, and win the admira- 

 tion of every beholder; and lists are often made up on such occa- 

 sions which are sure to disappoint the planter. 



To a beginner in tree-planting we would say : If you would save 

 time, money, and disappointment, consult the best practical planter 

 in your vicinity, and he will cheerfully give you experience which 

 has been costly to him and will be a great saving to you. A dish 

 of magnificent " Flemish Beauties " may be exhibited by me, the 

 " White Doyenne " by my neighbor Jones, and the " Beurre Diel " 

 by Parson White; while neither of us would recommend either 

 variety for successful planting, though all take first premiums at 

 the fair. 



A variety may occasionally produce choice, beautiful specimens, 

 of high quality, and yet not be worth the time and space given it. 

 Again, certain varieties will, under high culture, do remarkably 

 well and yield satisfaction, while with neglect they would be utter 

 failures. Again, certain varieties set so heavy a load of fruit that 

 without thinning the fruit would be nearly worthless, but with 

 proper thinning be highly satisfactory — as "Mount Vernon," 

 "Rutter," " Kieffer's hybrid." Again, in some sections certain 

 varieties are specially subject to disease, as blight, yellows, etc. 

 Such varieties should usually be avoided as too uncertain for that 

 locality, whereas they might be judiciously planted, under favora- 

 ble conditions, elsewhere. 



We should see a fair show of probabilities in favor of a new 

 fruit before planting it, while with old fruits we should learn their 

 history and pecuharities in the past, and not blindly follow on to 



