FRUITS 389 



for more kinds of grapes, both wild and cultivated, grow in 

 North America than in any other country. 



93. Classification. The most useful classification of 

 these fruits, for it groups them according to methods of cul- 

 ture, is as follows : (1) orchard or tree fruits, which are sub- 

 divided into pome fruits (apple, pear, quince), stone fruits 

 (peach, plum, cherry), and citrous fruits (orange, lemon, 

 grape-fruit) ; (2) vine fruits (grape) ; and (3) small fruits 

 (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, and goose- 

 berries). 



Orchard Fruits 



94. Orchards. The cultivation of orchard fruits is prob- 

 ably most highly developed in North America. A genera- 

 tion ago an orchard in connection with a home was the 

 usual thing ; but now great areas are under cultivation by 

 professional fruit-growers. In the old home orchard the 

 trees were left to take care of themselves, so that the fruit 

 crops were uncertain and variable, dependent upon the 

 accident of soil and climate. Now 



great care is given to the soil and to 

 the trees, and the result has been great 

 increase in productiveness, greater uni- 

 formity, and finer quality. 



In establishing an orchard the soil is 

 prepared as thoroughly as for any other 

 crop, and for two or three years deep 



. . FIG. 63. Section of a 



ploughing is practised. This puts the peach, showing P ui P and 



i . j r i TJ- stone formed as two 



SOll in gOOd physical Condition for re- layers of the ovary wall, 



taining water, makes the soil salts more 

 available, and assists the young trees 



in establishing a sufficiently extensive root system. After- 

 wards there is frequent light tillage early in the season ; then 

 often a cover-crop (such as clover) is sown, which is left all 

 winter and is ploughed under in the spring. 

 26 



