LESSONS IN COMMERCIAL FRUIT GROWING 



CHAPTER I 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 



1. Definitions. The word fruity as used in American 

 horticulture, may be defined as the edible part of a peren- 

 nial plant that is closely connected in its development with 

 the flower. This definition includes the nuts, which for 

 convenience, are now classed with fruits in matters relat- 

 ing to culture. Pomology ox fruit growing is the art or 

 science of raising fruit. Commercial fruit growing is the 

 raising of fruit primarily as a means of earning a liveli- 

 hood. It includes the raising, the handling and the mar- 

 keting of fruits, especially in large quantities. 



2. Present condition of fruit growing:. Fruit growing 

 in the United States and Canada is now passing through 

 a transition period, especially as regards the tree fruits. 

 The old-time farm orchard is slowly disappearing. The 

 production of fruit, however, is rapidly increasing, but the 

 increase is due mainly to the establishment of large com- 

 mercial orchards. Fruit growing, in other words, is fol- 

 lowing in the line of other industries and is being more 

 and more conducted on a large scale, and often with com- 

 bined capital and according to strict business methods. As 

 the result, fruit is being produced more cheaply, and of 

 better quality than formerly. 



3. The education required. Commercial fruit grow- 

 ing requires education along two distinct lines. 1st. The 



