PREFACE 7 



as a science, [and]Jto maintain a position of dignity, integrity and 

 impartial usefulness." 



Every fruit grower, whether professional or amateur, should be a 

 member'of this great Society, which in return for his small member- 

 ship fee will' not only accord him the usual privileges of membership 

 and provide him with a bound copy of the "Proceedings," but will 

 present opportunities for inspiration unequalled by any other horti- 

 cultural institution of the Western Continent. 



My special thanks are due to The Garden Magazine for per- 

 mission to" quote Mr. Stephen F. Hamblin's article on "Beauty, Comfort 

 and Utility" (page 21) ; to The Country Gentleman and to Prof. W. N. 

 Hutt for the article on "Home Orchards in the South" (page 41); 

 to both of these magazines, to House and Garden, to the United States 

 Depart ment of Agriculture, to several State Experiment Stations, to 

 the Van Dusen Nurseries of Geneva, N. Y.. and to individuals for 

 the use of photographs separately listed under "Acknowledgments." 

 After the diagram on page 34 was made for this volume, I used it in 

 more graphic form in an article, written specially for The Garden 

 Magazine"of April, 1918. 



The writing of this book, my sixth on a horticultural subject, has 

 given me especial pleasure because, while talking of fruit growing, it has 

 afford ed me an opportunity to delineate from intimate association 

 an ideal of home life peculiarly suited to American conditions and 

 to the temperament of our people whatever their station may be. 



E xperiences as parent and foster parent in presenting previous "brain 

 children" to the world have shown me that no matter how fond and 

 careful we may be the neighbors are always able to find flaws in our 

 "perfect" offspring. Unlike doting fathers and mothers, however, 

 I shall be glad to have these shortcomings and errors called to my 

 attention so they may be rectified. 



M. G. KAINS 

 Port Washington, N. Y. 



