10 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING, 



intolerant of surplus water in the soil. A rolling country also 

 gives many high slopes where there is comparative immunity 

 from unseasonable frosts. Its various slopes are adapted to a 

 variety of crops. For these reasons good fruit sections are 

 generally located where the land is hilly but land that is quite 

 flat may sometimes prove valuable for fruit when near large 

 water areas so that there is secured comparative immunity from 

 frosts and when sufficiently elevated to secure good drainage. 

 As a rule, however, flat land is not well adapted to fruit growing. 



BUSINESS ASPECT. 



Fruit growing as a business. Success in any business is 

 largely a personal matter and success in fruit growing likewise 

 depends much on the individual and his adaptability. The de- 

 mand for fruit is on the increase and the consumption of fresh 

 fruits per capita is now greater than a few years ago. With the 

 Introduction of improved methods of storing and shipping fresh 

 fruit is destined to play a more important part in the diet of 

 every American. Comparatively a few years ago fresh fruit was 

 regarded as a luxury but now it is looked upon as a staple food 

 having special hygienic values. 



Overproduction of fruit. There is occasionally an overpro- 

 duction of fruit but it is rare that there is an overproduction 

 of good fruit. Our chief trouble is that our methods of distri- 

 bution are faulty and our people do not get the fruit they want. 

 Those fruits are most stable in price that can be readily used 

 for canning or drying purposes because, when low in price, the 

 surplus may be easily disposed of. The tendency is certainly 

 toward cheaper, good fruit, but there is also a growing discrimi- 

 nating taste for fruit of the best quality and the number of 

 consumers who are willing and able to pay a fair price for a 

 good article is fast increasing. As wealth increases this dis- 

 crimination in favor of the best will become even more pro- 

 nounced than it is today. 



The successful fruit grower must be well grounded in the 

 principles of growing fruit and the many problems that are sure 

 to present themselves In the course of the annual round of 

 duties. Not only is it desirable that ho know how to grow 



