26 SUCCESS WITH SMALL J^J^UITS. 



one enterprising firm annually spends thousands in advertis- 

 ing roses only. 



But while we welcome the evidences that so many are 

 ceasing to be bucolic heathen, much observation has shown 

 that the need of further enlightenment is large indeed. It 

 is depressing to think of the number of homes about which 

 fruits are conspicuous only by their absence, — homes of 

 every class, from the laborer's cottage and pioneer's cabin 

 to the suburban palace. Living without books and pictures 

 is only a little worse than living in the country without fruits 

 and flowers. We must respect to some extent the old as- 

 cetics, who, in obedience to mistaken ideas of duty, deprived 

 themselves of the good things God provided, even while we 

 recognize the stupidity of such a course. Little children are 

 rarely so lacking in sense as to try to please their father by 

 contemptuously turning away from his best gifts, or by treat- 

 ing them with indifference. Why do millions live in the 

 country, year after year, raising weeds and brambles, or a 

 few coarse vegetables, when the choicest fruits would grow 

 almost as readily? They can plead no perverted sense of 

 duty. 



It is a question hard to answer. Some, perhaps, have the 

 delusion that fine small fruits are as difficult to raise as or- 

 chids. They class them with hot-house grapes. Others 

 think they need so little attention that they can stick a few 

 plants in hard, poor ground and leave them to their fate. 

 One might as well try to raise canary-birds and kittens to- 

 gether as strawberries and weeds. There is a large class 

 who believe in small fruits, and know their value. They 

 enjoy them amazingly at a friend's table, and even buy some 

 when they are cheap. A little greater outlay and a Httle in- 

 telligent effort would give them an abundant supply from 

 their own grounds. In a vague way they are aware of this, 



