

PREFACE 



THE cultivation of fruit trees, if practised with care and dis- 

 crimination, proves of absorbing interest, and is profitable. If, 

 however, the work is commenced by the inexperienced without 

 due inquiry, and in ignorance of essential details of cultivation, 

 failure, comparative if not absolute, is inevitable. Providing 

 the amateur plants a representative selection of fruits, and 

 disposes them in the positions best suited to their needs, he 

 will not have long to wait for some return on his outlay. He 

 should plant not only Apple, Pear, Plum, Peach, and Cherry 

 -none of which gives a fair crop until several years have passed 

 -but Strawberry, Raspberry, Gooseberry, and Currant. If 

 Strawberries are planted in late summer a crop of excellent 

 fruits may be obtained the following year, and the bush fruits 

 quickly come into bearing. By widening the scope of his fruit 

 garden the amateur adds not only to its interest, but secures 

 a profitable return in as short a time as possible. If walls are 

 available it should be the object of the gardener to cover them 

 without delay, for wall area is valuable. The simplest way 

 to do this is to plant trained standards between the fan-trained 

 trees or espaliers ; in the course of years the latter will spread 

 and occupy the whole wall area, but, meanwhile, much fruit 

 can be obtained from the trained standard trees planted to fill 

 the upper part of the wall. 



" Fruit Growing for Amateurs " is published with the object 

 of guiding amateur gardeners who possess, or are about to. 



