No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 389 



western regions by their size and color. We wlio have quality, have 

 been talking most about color and size which we have not. Sober 

 second thought should show us that Ave should make most of that 

 which we have — quality. 



There is of course a great difference of opinion as to which the 

 high quality varieties are of the several fruits. This is as it should 

 be for if all mankind liked the same varieties we should have but 

 one sort each of the several fruits. Fiuit-growing would thereby 

 be greatly lessened, and wliat in Heaven's name would all the nur- 

 serymen do! It is well that there are many varieties, the number 

 is a measure of the merit, and to pick out those of high quality each 

 man must choose for himself, wading through the dismal swamp of 

 varieties until he finds what pleases him. The difficulty is to bring 

 the good varieties before the public. 



In what has been said I have sought to establish two facts; namely, 

 that high quality is the chief of all the attributes of fruit: and 

 that the fruits of the East have it in greater degree than do some 

 of their competitors. I have presumed to say, too, that eastern 

 fruit-growers take small account of quality which should be tJieir 

 chief asset; rather do they magnify the importance of size and color, 

 that which they have not, nor cannot have as some of their com- 

 petitors do have. . But there is little use in this discussion if one 

 cannot be somewhat precise in telling how the condition that pre- 

 vails can be bettered. To this end I have a few suggestions to offer 

 — specific suggestions for individulas and general ones for the So- 

 ciety, for this is a case where concerted action between individuals 

 and societies is necessary. Speaking to individuals: 



First. The individual fruit-grower of this region must come to 

 realize in growing fiuits for color or size they are beaten by the 

 West and that their long suit is to grow for quality. This is true 

 now but it will grow more and more so as the years go by. A man 

 should grow sorts for the market that he is willing to eat himself. 

 If individuals will make a reputation for the high quality of their 

 fruits, a reputation will soon be established for the region. 



Second. Let every man deprecate above all things the oft made 

 assertion that the public wants trashy stuff — cares only for ap- 

 pearance and not for quality. It is the fashion of the times to 

 decry the public. Certain papers say the public wants only yellow 

 journalism; some writers hold that the people will read only light 

 or vulgar fiction; lag-time music is supposed to suit the public; 

 theatres will present only sensational plays; following the fashion 

 some fruit-growers hold that the public has the tooth of a gorilla, 

 the taste of a buzzard, the stomach of an ostrich, and by choice fills 

 its maw on Ben Davis apples and Kieffer pears. It is not true that 

 the public likes poor fruit, the better the fruit the more of it will 

 be eaten. The public is sIoav moving but once»it learns true worth 

 in fruit its appetite will be for the good varieties. It will not be 

 content with poor or mediocre sorts. If it must wipe the tongue 

 around the mouth and titillate the palate in order to find the flavor 

 of apples and pears, it will take to oranges, bananas, grape-fruits 

 and pineapples. 



Third. It is a good policy in this world not to break rudely 

 with the old but to run smoothly into the new. It would hardly 



