FRUIT-GROWING FOR PROFIT. 



"1 TE. WILLIAM PAUL, F.L.S., in a paper read at a meeting of the Society of Arts, 

 truly says: "Fruit-growing as a recreation, or for one's own use, is one of the 

 most fascinating and diverting of occupations, and may be pursued with satisfaction by 

 the uninitiated. But fruit-growing for profit is a different thing. Here knowledge is 

 wanted. The possession of it, rightly applied, will be attended with success ; the 

 absence of it with failure." This knowledge it has been our endeavour to impart in 

 the preceding pages, so as to meet the requirements of different classes 1, growers of 

 fruit mainly for private consumption ; 2, growers for exhibition ; 3, growers for 

 market. 



In the first-named section tastes differ, yet all agree in wanting the best variety 

 of fruits to last in succession over as long a season as possible, and to meet all require- 

 ments for dessert or cooking. Many persons do not look at the cost of production so 

 long as they can have fruit of their own growth ; but some grow more fruit than is 

 required for family use, and dispose of the surplus in the markets. This class 

 includes amateurs, cottagers, farmers, tradesmen, private gentlemen, and noblemen, all 

 of whom possess, either personally or through those employed, some preliminary instruc- 

 tion and training. 



Growers for Exhibition or Pleasure. These like to have (and will have at any cost) 

 handsome dishes or collections of fruit for showing at exhibitions or on their tables, 

 whether the trees are good croppers or not, or the fruit of the first quality for dessert 

 or cooking. Beautiful fruit gives much pleasure to this class of individuals, who advance 

 the art of fruit-growing more than is generally credited by testing new or little-known 

 varieties, and so bring their qualities to light. The growers who make a hobby of fruit- 

 growing, and take pleasure in seeing the variations in colour, size, and quality of the 

 different varieties, who like to test sorts which arc new or unknown to them, and find 

 out their suitability for their soil or climate, without thought of profit, are the most 

 advanced pomologists. These, as a rule, pronounce fruit-growing a failure. Mr. R. D. 

 Blackmore's testimony is significant upon this point. He says : " I have been engaged 



