242 Effective Farming 



pears, and others. In warm regions, the persimmon and citrus 

 fruits, and many others, are grown. The home fruit planta- 

 tion should be encouraged as a source of supplies and pleasure. 

 Commercial fruit-growing has now reached a great develop- 

 ment in North America. This is particularly true of apples, 

 peaches, and citrus fruits. Great attention has been given to 

 the insects and diseases affecting the fruit crops, and also to 

 methods of handling the products. As fruit-trees will continue 

 to bear even under neglect, careless growers are likely to give 

 little attention to them ; yet these plants respond to good care 

 as readily as others, and it is only under the best conditions that 

 profitable production is to be expected. 



142. Classification of fruits. The growing of fruit is a 

 very important agricultural pursuit in the United States. 

 Some kind of fruit is produced on most farms and in many 

 sections the growing of fruit is the chief industry. According 

 to Bailey, fruits may be classified under four heads: (1) tree- 

 fruits, including apples, pears, quinces, apricots, plums, cher- 

 ries, nuts, figs, and olives; (2) vine fruits, including grapes; 

 (3) small-fruits, including currants, blackberries, raspberries, 

 and strawberries ; (4) herb-like fruits, including bananas 

 and pineapples. 



143. Soils for fruit. Some kinds of fruits are more exact- 

 ing as to soil than others. Apples, plums, and citrus fruits 

 seem to grow fairly well in most kinds of soil, although there 

 is in each region where these fruits are grown a soil type that 

 is best suited to each. Pears do best on clay soil and peaches 

 on sandy soil. 



The drainage of land devoted to fruit-culture is very impor- 

 tant ; often the reason for lack of success in this husbandry is 

 poor soil drainage. The subsoil is of as much importance as 

 the surface soil in determining fruit adaptation to land. A soil 

 with an impervious subsoil near the surface means one with a 

 shallow zone for the tree roots. Such land should not be planted 

 to fruit. 



