38 THE HOME ACRE. 



their life-long and intelligent efforts to guide the 

 people wisely in the choice and culture of the very 

 best varieties. A moment's thought will convince 

 the reader that I am not giving too much space to 

 this matter of selection. We are now dealing with 

 questions which wide and varied experience can 

 best answer. Men who give their lives to the cul- 

 tivation and observation of fruits in all their myriad 

 varieties acquire a knowledge which is almost in- 

 valuable. We cannot afford to put out trees, to 

 give them good culture, and wait for years, only 

 to learn that all our care has been bestowed on 

 inferior or second-rate varieties. Life is too brief. 

 We all feel that the best is good enough for us ; 

 and the best usually costs no more in money or 

 time than do less desirable varieties. Therefore 

 I seek to give on this important question of choice 

 the opinions of some of the highest authorities in 

 the land. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller is not only a well-known hor- 

 ticultural author, but has also had the widest 

 experience in the culture and observation of 

 fruit. He prefaces his opinion with the following 

 words : " How much and how often we horticultu- 

 rists have been puzzled with questions like yours ! 

 If we made no progress, were always of the 

 same mind, and if seasons never changed, then 

 perhaps there would be little difficulty in deciding 



