FRUIT GROWING 135 



winter, a cellar where the temperature can be kept near 

 freezing is desirable. It should be slightly moist to pre- 

 vent wilting of fruit or vegetables. If the cellar is too 

 dry, fruit and vegetables may be kept from wilting by 

 storing in forest or other tree leaves. If the latter, how- 

 ever, are too moist and the cellar is very warm they will 

 heat and cause decay. 



FRUIT GROWING AS A BUSINESS. 



Fruit growing has many attractions. It is a business 

 in which we often hear of large profits being made, yet 

 when we come to sum up the average we find that fail- 

 ures are frequent and the business is not more profit- 

 able than many others. It, however, has many attrac- 

 tions aside from the financial question. The fruit trees 

 in bloom and trees and vines in fruit are especially beau- 

 tiful; and the study of varieties, and watching the devel- 

 opment of the plant or tree from small beginnings, keep 

 us interested in things outside ourselves. When prop- 

 erly and skilfully conducted, large profits may be made 

 from all of our fruit crops. 



The markets of our country are among the best in 

 the world. Our people can and do pay better prices for 

 choice products than any other people. Yet the supply 

 of choice fruit that comes to our markets from all parts 

 of the world is so great that prices do not rule high. 

 Choice fruit, however, will always sell at good prices, and 

 when economically grown there is often a large profit in 

 growing it. 



The Apple. 



This is the most important tree fruit of the temperate 

 zone. It is grown from Mexico to Northern Canada and 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Apples grown from 

 New York City to Northern Canada and from Nova 

 Scotia to Michigan are of better quality than those 



