244 THE BEST SORTS FOR CULTIVATION". 



§ II. BEST SIX, TEN, TWELTE, OR TWENTY VARIETIES. 



It is of great importance to the practical fruit- 

 grower to know not only what varieties will flourish 

 well in his locality, as set forth in the preceding 

 pages, but also in what manner those varieties 

 should be combined so as to secure him an orchard 

 of the greatest value for domestic use and for the 

 market. To teach the latter lesson, we have col- 

 lated, from the issues of the American Pomological 

 Society, and from other authentic sources, the follow- 

 ing results of the experience and observation of the 

 best cultivators in a number of the states of the 

 American Union. 



It has been our aim to obtain full reports on this 

 point from every part of the country. But this has 

 been in a measure prevented by circumstances be- 

 yond our control. We have classified these results 

 (jeofjraphicalhj^ so that cultivators, in states from 

 which we have no returns, can form their judgment 

 as to the combination of varieties, so as to secure 

 the best reward of labor and expenditure from an 

 inspection of returns from other states in their 

 vicinity. As reliable data may be received by us 

 from other states and territories, and from the Pa- 

 cific coast and the British provinces, we shall add 

 them to these specifications, in the hope of accumu- 

 lating ultimately the ripe experience of American 

 fruit-growers. 



