(jerjeral TTraits. 



WHAT FRUIT CAN OUR FARMERS MOST PROFITABLY 



PLANT? 



E. H. S. DARTT, OWATOXXA. 



It is with a great deal of reluctance that I shall attempt to answer 

 this question, for I know how fashionable it is in a meeting- like this 

 to say nice things in a very pleasant way to work up enthusiasm 

 create a little boom and have a good time; and the man is certainly 

 indiscreet who will throw cold water and spoil the good time, or, at 

 least, create a chill. But, some of j^ou may know that I am a cold 

 water man, a prohibitionist, accustomed to rough treatment, and 

 that I expect to be punished for throwing cold water. I am not a 

 non-resistant but believe in hitting back as often as opportunity and 

 courage permits. 



Not long ago I attended a horticultural meeting where farmers 

 were roundly scored and even ridiculed for not having good gar- 

 dens and plenty of fruit, so that they could furnish strawberries and 

 cream for the great horticulturists who might feel inclined to rusti- 

 cate. I was mad and wanted to hit back in defense of the poor farmer, 

 for whoin I have great sympathj^, having been uncomfortably near 

 that position mj'self ; besides, I inherited from my father a dispo- 

 sition to always sj^mpathise with the under dog. This may throw- 

 light on some of my strange freaks and help j'ou to understand and 

 excuse my present attitude. 



Horticulturists as a rule are genuine philanthropists. They 

 always tell the truth, but they are not sworn to tell the whole truth, 

 and thej' seMom do it. They have noble objects in view in leaving 

 unpleasant features in the background, for if brought prominently 

 forward it would spoil the picture in Minnesota. They feel obliged 

 to sugarcoat liberally, so as to make the medicine palatable. The 

 result is that when a fellow has swallowed it and is tortured with 

 griping pains, not hinted at by the doctors, he thinks he is sold and 

 is liable to soliloquise in this way: "Wonder'if those fellows kno-w- 

 w^hat thej^ are talking about, or are they talking just for fun and to 

 pave the w^ay for some rascally tree agent to gull the people." 



It seems to me that it would be far better for us to come square up 

 to the scratch and tell the whole truth. Let us admit that our cli- 

 mate is not well suited to fruit growing; it is too cold in winter and 

 too dry and hot in summer; and to make the business profitable 



