346 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



that the continuing commerce with all parts of the 

 world constantly exposes us to new dangers. Pests 

 which have latterly broken out with fury have been 

 breeding in unobserved numbers in the neglected 

 plantations for many years. The ideals of the fruit- 

 grower are also higher now than they were a few 

 years ago. Competition has increased, and the 

 smallest blemish on a fruit is enough to throw it 

 out of a first-class article, whilst a few years since 

 it might have passed without comment. 



2. The necessity of spraying is bound to force 

 new ideals upon the grower. Those persons who 

 grow in a large way for the general and more or 

 less staple markets will find themselves casting about 

 for those varieties which are least susceptible to 

 disease and insect injury and which, therefore, need 

 the smallest amount of attention in the way of 

 sprays. 



3. On the other hand, the protection which spray- 

 ing affords will tend to bring in many of those 

 good old varieties which, like the Virgalieu pear, 

 have almost disappeared from cultivation because of 

 disease. Those persons who are growing special kinds 

 of fruit for particular or personal markets will select 

 the varieties of ideal qualities almost independently 

 of the liability to insect or fungous attacks, because 

 they are now assured that these attacks can be 

 overcome. On the one hand, therefore, spraying will 

 force the selection of varieties which do not demand 

 this extra care and treatment ; and, upon the other- 

 hand, it will afford the grower of fruits for dessert 



