28 Success with Small km it*. 



many who read of large returns in fruit culture. A young man who had 

 inherited a few hundred dollars wrote me that he could hire a piece of 

 land for a certain amount, and he wished to invest the balance every 

 cent in plants, thus leaving himself no capital with which to continue: 

 operations, but expecting that a speedy crop would lift him at once into a 

 prosperous career. I wrote that under the circumstances I could not 

 supply him that it would be about the same as robbery to do so; and 

 advised him to spend several years with a practical and successful fruit- 

 grower and learn the business. 



Most people enter upon this calling in the form of a wedge ; but only 

 too many commence at the blunt end, investing largely at once in 

 everything, and therefore their business soon tapers down to nothing. 

 The wise begin at the point of the wedge and develop their calling 

 naturally, healthfully ; learning, by experience and careful observation, how 

 to grow fruits profitably, and which kinds pay the best. There ought 

 also to be considerable capital to start with, and an absence of the crushing 

 burden of interest money. No fruits yield any returns before the 

 second or third year ; and there are often unfavorable seasons and glutted 

 markets. Nature's prizes are won by patient, persistent industry, and not 

 by Wall street sleight of hand. 



Location is very important. A fancy store, however well-furnished, 

 would be a ruinous investment at a country cross-road. The fruit farm 

 must be situated where there is quick and cheap access to good markets, 

 and often the very best market may be found at a neighboring village, 

 summer resort, or a canning establishment. Enterprise and industry,, 

 however, seem to surmount all obstacles. The Rev. Mr. Knox shipped 

 his famous " 700 " strawberry (afterward known to be the Jucunda, a 

 foreign variety) from Pittsburg to New York, securing large returns ; 

 and, take the country over, the most successful fruit farms seem to be 

 located where live men live and work. Still, if one were about to 

 purchase, sound judgment would suggest a very careful choice of locality 

 with speedy access to good markets. Mr. J. J. Thomas, editor of the 

 Country Gentleman, in a paper upon the Outlook of Fruit Culture, read 

 before the Western N. Y. Horticultural Society, laid down three essentials 

 to success. 



1st. Locality a region found by experience to be adapted to fruit 

 growing. 2d. Wise selection of varieties of each kind. 3d. Care and 

 culture of these varieties. He certainly is excellent authority. 



These obvious considerations, and the facts that have been instanced, 

 make it clear that brains must unite with labor and capital. Above 



