136 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



DEFINITEXESS IN HORTICULTURE. 



By Prof. F. W. Rane, New Hampshire Experiment Station, 

 Durham, N. H. 



To make a success in anything, I care not what it is. a person 

 must haye a comprehensiye idea of it. With this well under- 

 stood, the subject before us, "Definiteness in Horticulture," may 

 be considered. As farmers we should have a definiteness of 

 purpose which shows itself in our system of rotations, adapt- 

 able crops, etc. 



^^'ith up-to-date methods of farming I am sure horticulture 

 will appeal to us in some of its various forms, and it is only those 

 of us who attain to this degree of proficiency that will make 

 nmch success. A poor farmer will rarely make a successful 

 horticulturist. Horticulture is more intensive than general 

 farming, and to my mind is the cream of agriculture. It may 

 be that horticulture will remain as of secondary importance as 

 it is today on our farms for some time, but the thing of utmost 

 importance is that whatever is attempted should be with defi- 

 niteness in view. If in spite of our neglectful methods, fruit 

 growing brings the most profitable crops found on many farms 

 to-day, what, I ask, can we make of it if given more definite 

 consideration? With a wholesome public sentiment in favor of 

 even apple growing, to say nothing about the innumerable other 

 horticultural crops. New England can be made a country 

 unsurpassed. 



We can say without hesitation that the apple crop is a sure 

 paying crop everywhere in New England. Of course different 

 sections differ more or less locally as to soil, exposure, etc., but 

 by studying the existing conditions the problem can be easily 

 solved. With the rapid development or evolution of American 

 fruits there are varieties adapted to all conditions of soils and 

 climates. With the introduction of Russian blood we have 

 varieties of apples and cherries that withstand even the severe 

 winters of northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Elaine. 

 Already we find such varieties of apples as the Bethel. Arctic, 

 Oldenburg, Mcintosh. Wealthy, Pewaukee. Wagener, Scott's 

 Winter, St. Lawrence, etc., coming from these sections in 



