6 FRUIT-GROWER; T. JOSEPH, MO. 



development of business continually introduces new 

 complications. New markets have to be reached. 

 New customers have to be consulted. New ideas in 

 transportation are brought forward. New packages 

 are proposed every day. New schemes are in sight 

 everywhere. Market conditions are every day becom- 

 ing more and more complex. Unless one studies the 

 subject carefully and ceaselessly he must soon fall 

 behind the times. 



The complexity of the subject stands as one of the 

 chief reasons why the fruit-grower should study 

 deeply into the fundamental questions underlying the 

 whole subject of fruit marketing. Only in this way 

 can he properly understand the various and often 

 surprising facts which come to his acquaintance. 



A fruit-grower, to be successful in his business, 

 must know how to grow good fruit, and he should be 

 able to do this at a minimum cost. It is often said 

 that good fruit sells itself, and this is true to a cer- 

 tain extent, so that a knowledge of fruit-growing is a 

 first essential in frui't selling. Yet after the fruit is 

 grown there are still two matters which the fruit- 

 grower ought to understand in order to make his 

 undertaking a financial success: First, he should 

 have a broad knowledge of the general principles 

 governing the business of trading in fruit; and sec- 

 ond, he must be master of an infinite number of little 

 details, every one of which is essential to complete 

 success. 



A few of these little details can be set forth in a 

 work like this, but many of them can be learned by 

 experience only. The main purpose and use of this 

 little text book, from the nature of things, must be to 

 set forth in systematic order the general principles 

 involved. Let us understand therefore, at the outset, 

 that it is impossible to tell everything which is 

 important. There will still be many things for the 



