Competition in the Business 21 



lies in the fact that very many of the orchards that are 

 planted in hope and expectation yield only indifferent 

 results. 



Not often is there a sufficiency of the best in any com- 

 modity. It is in the production and careful marketing of 

 the best that the greatest hope lies with any individual; 

 and this raises at once the personal qualifications. A 

 man cannot make the best unless he has ability for it. 

 It is more important, therefore, that the first tillage and 

 fertilizing and pruning and spraying be applied to the 

 man rather than to the land or the crop; and while the 

 man is acquiring discipline for the direct prosecution of 

 his business, he is at the same time opening his mind to 

 all the satisfactions of living. On the other hand, there is 

 commonly a surplus of the ordinary. In fact, it is the ordi- 

 nariness that often makes it a surplus. Now, inasmuch as 

 most men are ordinary, it follows that most things which 

 they make will be ordinary; and it does not matter if we 

 raise the standard of all men, the greater part will still be 

 ordinary, for we have only raised the ordinariness of the 

 mass. This is equivalent to saying that the effort at excel- 

 lence must be continuous and must not be satisfied with 

 any achievement. 



One cannot expect to escape competition in the fruit 

 business. As a rule, the best results are to be anticipated 

 when one grows his fruit in a fruit-growing region in com- 

 pany and in competition with other fruit-growers. If 

 every occupation is already full, then it follows that the 

 choice of an occupation resolves itself into what one cares 

 for and what he has capital for, provided always that he 

 can secure the proper land and location for the prosecu- 

 tion of the business. He need have no fear of his success 

 if he grows what people want, or puts it up so as to make 



