PART I. 



FEUIT CULTUEE IK GENEKAL. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



Somebody has said that he who causes two hlades of grass to 

 grow where but one grew before, is a public benefactor. So, he 

 who makes a tree grow where none grew before, gladdening the 

 wayfarer with the fragrance of its blossoms and the richness of ita 

 fruit, performs an act not only of public beneficence, but of private 

 good. 



That every farmer — and, indeed, every head of a family so situ- 

 ated as to be able to do so — should possess a Feuit Oechaed, more 

 or less extensive, is a proposition so apparent as to admit of no con- 

 troversy. There are few owners of land in the country, and com 

 paratively few in the cities and towns, but might, by the exercise 

 of a little prudence and forethought, jrovide themselves with an 

 amount of rich and wholesome fruit sufficient for their own con 

 sumption. There ought to be ten times — yea, a hundred times — 

 as much fruit consumed in the United States as at present. What 

 is now brought sparingly within the reach of the few, should be 

 used plentifully by the many ; instead of appearing only occasion- 

 ally on the tables of the rich, it should form an important item of 

 consumption with both rich and poor. 



To aid in bringing about so desirable a result is the aim of the 

 writer in the present publication. He makes the following points, 

 as being eminently susceptible of demonstration: 



