TREES WITH AN EDUCATION 67 



science would indicate that the apple of the Gar- 

 den of Eden was a small, unattractive fruit more 

 tart and bitter than our modern crab variety. The 

 fact is that only in the tropics do edible fruits grow 

 spontaneously. In temperate climates the trees' 

 energies ordinarily are so taken up with providing 

 the means of subsistence that the fruit is of a very 

 small and mean variety. It is only when man takes 

 the tree into his class room and by careful nurture 

 and intelligent guidance of its evolutionary proc- 

 esses creates ideal conditions do the fruits as we 

 know them develop. The tart wild cherry becomes 

 sweet and luscious and five times its original size. 

 The bitter wild grape becomes a beautiful Concord 

 cluster. The hard, puckering crab apple becomes 

 the resplendent globes of deliciousness known as 

 golden pippins. 



The principles of education as applied to fruit 

 trees are very simple. By abundance of water, soil 

 and sunshine each individual is given the best pos- 

 sible chance to develop itself and the best specimens 

 are selected for propagation. By cross-breeding, 

 budding and grafting nature's laws are hurried to- 

 ward the goal which has been decided in advance. 

 In fruit culture it is always an object to diminish 

 the foliage and the size of the seeds in order that 

 greater strength may go into the growth of the 



