IT 



PREFACE 



In blocking out this hand-book I endeavored to place myself in 

 the position of a suburbanite with little or no practical experience 

 on Horticultural subjects, and who was desirous of beautifying and 

 improving his home by the culture of these lovely dwarfs. 



Realizing such a one's requirement for a simple, detailed book 

 of instructions, to enable him to know what to do, and how to do it, 

 I present this hand-book for the benefit of suburbanites generally. 

 While many readers may be well informed upon general Horti- 

 cultural subjects, yet their attention has not been directed to the 

 subject of Dwarf Fruit Tree Culture. I trust they will derive both 

 pleasure and instruction herefrom. The work is open to criticism, 

 of course, favorable, or unfavorable, as may happen. Others might 

 have done better, and again they might not. I remember back 

 seventy years ago we had these dwarf trees in our home garden, and, 

 strange to say, that many of the choice fruits of that day still hold 

 a high place in the selected lists of " Bests " in the nurserymen's 

 catalogue of the present day. In spite of the strenuous efforts of 

 three-fourths of a century to surpass them, they still hold their own. 



In conclusion I wish to acknowledge the courtesy of Professor 

 Waugh of the Massachusetts Agricultural College in sending some 

 cuts for illustrating this hand-book. Professor Waugh, who is per- 

 haps the best posted man in the United States on the subject of 

 dwarf fruit trees, has written a valuable work on the subject which 

 I can highly recommend. 



My greatest difficulty in preparing this hand-book occurred 

 when I came to select a list of dwarf fruits, in deciding which to 

 keep in my list, and what to strike out, the claims of many of those 

 stricken out being in many instances fully equal to those retained. 

 Not being able to include all the "Bests" I was compelled to make 

 a selection, and will let it "go at that," and leave it an open ques- 

 tion whether to modify my list in future editions. 



In conclusion I will say, I have taken much pleasure in prepar- 

 ing the work, and only hope my readers will enjoy as much pleasure 

 in reading it, and that it may prove the means of attracting their 

 attention to this highly interesting and delightful occupation of 

 Dwarf Fruit Tree Culture. 



A. W. THORNTON, 

 Ferndale, Whatcom County, Washington, 



--528273 



