FKUITS FOR THE HOME GARDEN : VARIETIES AND 



CULTURE. 



nX PROF. F. A. WAUGH, PROFESSOR OF HORTICULTURE, MASSA- 

 CHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Fruit growing has unquestionably made great progress in 

 the United States and Canada during the last decade. This 

 progress has been not only scientific, but practical. We 

 know more about the princii)les involved, and we also under- 

 stand better why these principles should be applied. 



Somewhat curiously, however, this improvement has been 

 confined almost wholly to the growing of fruit in large 

 quantities for market. The ^vhole tendency of the time has 

 been toward the cultivation of laro^e orchards, consisting^ of 

 only one or two varieties of fruit. All the methods of cul- 

 tivation have been bent to this purpose. All the discus- 

 sions of practical men and all the investigations of scientists 

 have been faced in this direction. The oTowino: of fruit in a 

 small way in the home has been neglected and almost for- 

 gotten. This is quite a difierent matter, and one in which 

 we have made no progress. In fact, we are not so well off 

 now, on the whole, as were our fathers in the time of Marshall 

 P. AVilder, Hovey and the Downings. 



There are many indications, however, that we are coming 

 back to a greater a[)preciation of the home fruit garden. It 

 is much to be ho})ed that many farmers and suburban families 

 Avill grow more fruit for themselves, and without an idea of 

 making the business a profital)le market venture. 



In choosing varieties for a home garden, one must make 

 his selection according to principles essentially different from 

 those which govern him in setting out a commercial orchard. 

 (1) In the first place, the home orchard requires a large 

 number of varieties. The commercial growers now com- 



