INTRODUCTION. 



was a time when to advocate the 

 JL cultivation of fruits as a specialty in this 

 country, would have subjected the author to 

 ridicule. Especially is this true of the Great North- 

 west. Within twenty years the author was told 

 that to advocate the growing of fruit in this terri- 

 tory was "flying in the face of Divine Providence." 

 The Almighty, they said, had made this country for 

 the growing of live stock and grain, and other parts 

 of the country for growing apples. Within the 

 past few years this non-apple producing territory 

 has sent hundreds, probably thousands of cars of 

 apples to the eastern market, and even across the 

 waters to Europe. This will be repeated, and 

 many times before the eastern part of this country 

 appreciates her true condition: that she is depend- 

 ing upon the old plantings, and not making a 

 proper provision for new ones when they are gone. 

 The most convincing proof of our ability to grow 

 fruit here is the fruit itself. There is practically 

 no considerable part of the territory which this 

 work is intended to cover where the people may 

 not have an abundance of fruit for every month in 

 the year. There is practically no part of this terri- 

 tory where Dent corn will ripen, and can be profit- 



