Proceedings at Semi-Annual Meeting. 27 



coufer upon others^ as that of horticulture. The youngest and 

 strongest of us when planting an orchard do not know that we will 

 ever be permitted to rest under its shade, or eat the fruit thereof, 

 and how often do we see the aged man, with tottering steps and 

 trembling hands, which tell only too clearly how fast he is nearing 

 that shining shore where loved ones are waiting to conduct him to 

 his future homej planting trees that he knows only those who follow 

 after can enjoy. This fact should make you proud of your chosen 

 avocation. • i 



It may not be out of place at this time to advise horticulturists 

 not to tread too closely in the beaten paths of our fathers, even in 

 the manner of treating orchards, varieties to plant, etc. We should 

 not only experiment, but observe the results of others' experiments, 

 and endeavor to profit thereby ; always, however, taking new and 

 untried varieties and methods, with due caution, for our experience 

 has taught us that what may do well in one locality, is valueless in 

 another ; also, that the statements of interested parties regarding 

 the merits of new varieties and new methods are not always reliable. 

 The season for marketing small fruits is now upon us and other 

 fruits will in their season ripen and must be picked and sent to the 

 mai'kets. ISTapoleon said of his horticultural friends, " They de- 

 serve to succeed," and I say the same of you, and my experience 

 has taught me that one of the great elements of success for the 

 fruit grower, is, first, to properly gather his fruit, and second, 

 to present it in an attractive manner to the purchaser. No greater 

 mistake can be made tlmn to send your fruit to the market in an 

 unripe state, or without having it properly assorted. Never try to 

 dispose of small or imperfect specimens of any kind of fruit, by 

 taking it to the market mixed with the large and ripe. More money 

 can be realized by having the latter selected and sold by itself, than 

 by attempting to sell all together, even if you have to throw the 

 small and imperfect specimens away. 



While I would advise having packages of fruit uniform in 

 quality and size all the way through as being not only the most 

 politic, but the honest way of dealing ; yet I cannot pass this sub- 

 ject without a word of condemnation for that rather flippant way 

 many purchasers have of charging dishonesty upon fruit growers, 

 because their packages of fruit often have the best specimens ex- 

 posed to view. I attribute this more to the sentiment of pride, 

 and a desire to make a good appearance, than to any sentiment 

 bordering on dishonesty, and this sentiment predominates to a 

 greater extent among the refined and intelligent, tljan among any 



