256 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



iii that pleasant pastime [fruit-growing] since the year 1857, having bought some 12 

 acres of land for the purpose. Tor many years I gave my entire attention to it, sparing 

 neither money nor labour. But during all those years I have not succeeded in securing 

 proceeds enough to cover the wages alone, except for two golden seasons, and those two 

 just met their expenses. The land is well suited for the purpose, but I have lost many 

 thousands [of pounds] by this insane investment." 



Groivers for Market must have knowledge and something more. Henry Dethicke, in 

 the "Gardeners' Labyrinth," published more than 300 years ago, says: " Not sufficient 

 is it to a gardener that he knoweth, or would the furtherance of the garden, without 

 any cost bestowed, which the works and labour of the same require. No. The will, 

 again, of the workman, in doing and bestowing of charges, shall small avail, without he 

 have both art and skill in the same. For that cause it is the ohiefest point in every 

 faculty and business, to understand and know what to begin and follow." This view 

 has been endorsed by every subsequent writer up to the present time, and implies that 

 no vocation or profession can be made profitable without special knowledge, industry, 

 and business aptitude. True it is that some men appear to be natural fruit-growers, 

 because they see " what to begin and follow." But Avhoever may fail in the attempt it 

 is a great mistake to suppose that intelligent farmers, labourers, or mechanics cannot 

 grow fruit profitably, for many grow sufficient to supply their own needs, and the sale 

 of the surplus pays the cost of production ; whilst most owners of land, good in staple 

 and location, find the returns in rents considerably more from land under a well-conducted 

 system of fruit culture than from that under ordinary agricultural tillage. This signifies 

 knowledge of a particular order, for all fruit growers must be good cultivators, also 

 characterised by " patient perseverance, untiring application, a timely seizure of offered 

 opportunities, and thrifty regard for occasions upon which available resources should be 

 called into united co-operative activity." (Mr. E. J. Baillie, F.L.S.) Work, business 

 tact, commercial enterprise, and intuitive or acquired market methods, are the essentials 

 required in fruit growing for profit. The opposites of these dread of work, inaptitude 

 for business, lack of energy and perseverance, and ignorance in growing and marketing 

 produce lead to nothing but failure. Mr. Blackmore indulged in fruit-growing as a 

 " pleasant pastime," and paid for it ; he did not work on commercial lines, but hundreds 

 who did so work have succeeded and extended their operations enormously. 



Labourers and Fruit. Practical knowledge of the land and its working fits the 

 agricultural labourer for growing fruit. Many cottages have gardens attached, and in 



