LIBRARY 



M C. state College 



PREFACE 



The purpose of this book is to present the experimental 

 and investigational bases of fruit-growing on the physiological 

 side, omitting consideration of the systematic botany and 

 taxonomy as well as of pathology. Pomology has here- 

 tofore been approached mostly from the orchard-practice 

 side, born of the experience of cultivators. Gradually the 

 underlying physiological and chemical reasons for the suc- 

 cess of these practices are being uncovered. It is on these 

 rational bases that college teaching must henceforth largely 

 rest. 



In the preparation of the present volume, it is assumed that 

 the student is familiar with the more common orchard prac- 

 tices, which statement will explain the omission of much in- 

 formational material. It has been apparent for some time 

 that much of the experimental results which have been ac- 

 cumulating from year to year should be collected into con- 

 venient form for students, for it should be the purpose of 

 the student to study (not merely read) the science on which 

 present-day practices in fruit-production are based. It may 

 seem to some persons that we have here gone far afield for 

 much of the material, but the more careful work of recent 

 years has made use of nearly all the sciences in attempting 

 to solve the problems. 



It is doubtless true that the advance which agricultural 

 education is making in secondary schools will force the col- 

 legiate work into a still more advanced position and much of 

 the material formerly used with satisfaction will give place 

 to more technical and scientific matter. This means, on 

 the one hand, that the college class-room work will lie more 



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