FRUIT FARMING. 39 



he must compete with the hardy, intelligent sons of the soil, 

 who, in most instances, are crowning their practical experi- 

 ence with careful reading. I do not say this to discourage 

 any one, but only to secure a thoughtfal and adequate con- 

 sideration of the subject before the small accumulations of 

 years are embarked in what may be a very doubtful venture. 

 Many have been misled to heavy loss by enthusiastic works 

 on horticulture; I wish my little book to lead only to 

 success. 



If white-handed, hollow-chested professional men anxious 

 to acquire money, muscle, and health by fruit raising, — if 

 citizens disgusted with pavements and crov/ds are willing 

 to take counsel of common- sense and learn the business 

 practically and thoroughly, why should they not succeed? 

 But let no one imagine that horticulture is the final resort 

 of ignorance, indolence, or incapacity, physical or mental. 

 Impostors palm themselves off on the world daily ; a credu- 

 lous public takes poisonous nostrums by the ton and butt ; 

 but Nature recognizes error every time, and quietly thwarts 

 those who try to wrong her, either wilfully or blunderingly. 



Mr. Peter Henderson, who has been engaged practically 

 in vegetable gardening for over a quarter of a century, states, 

 as a result of his experience, that capital, at the rate of ^300 

 per acre, is required in starting a " truck farm," and that the 

 great majority fail v/ho make the attempt with less means. 

 In my opinion, the fruit farmer would require capital in like 

 proportion ; for, while many of the small fruits can be gro\\Ti 

 with less preparation of soil and outlay in manure, the re- 

 turns come more slowly, since, with the exception of straw- 

 berries, none of them yield a full crop until the third or 

 fourth year. I advise most urgently against the incurring 

 of heavy debts. Better begin with three acres than thirty, 

 or three hundred, from which a large sum of interest money 



