INTRODUCTION. 



j- X my experience as teacher of Horticulture in the School of 

 ~ Agriculture of the University of Minnesota I have not been 

 able to find a book on fruit growing at all adapted to the 

 wants of the students coming under my instruction. In fact, I 

 soon found that the material along this line consisted princi- 

 pally of papers scattered through reports of the various hor- 

 ticultural societies and in the agricultural press, and that these 

 were not generally available, nor, indeed, sufficiently condensed 

 for my purpose. The peculiar conditions that obtain in this 

 section of the country, and which render the works of Eastern 

 authorities of little practical value here, made it desirable for 

 me to have some practical book on fruit growing that the 

 students could study and refer to at their convenience. 



Another reason for presenting this book is that by so doing 

 I might answer the many questions relating to the subject 

 treated, which have been often referred to me, and which have 

 required much time and attention in correspondence. 



The book is written for the beginner and is not offered 

 as a complete manual of Horticulture, although it is believed 

 to cover all the important points in practical fruit growing. 

 But lew varieties are recommended, and only the kinds tuat 

 have been tried for some considerable period and can be ob- 

 tained from the general nurserymen. Untried and little known 

 kinds have been purposely avoided, however well they may 

 have appeared. It is my earnest wish that new varieties be 

 let alone by the amateur in horticulture, and that, instead of 

 beginning with novelties in fruits, as is too often the case, he 

 will postpone their trial until he has first tried those kinds 

 that are known to be desirable. 



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