42 ORCHARD FRUIT TREE CULTURE 



and the planting was expeditiously done under our personal super- 

 vision. The rows were each a furlong in length, and considerable 

 pride was taken in setting the lines as perfectly straight as an arrow. 

 The result was one of the best fruit plantations to be found in the 

 country at that date and now a very valuable property. No less 

 thorough preparations could have brought the same results, and 

 we advocate thorough preparatory work as the soundest of economy 

 and essential to success. 



VARIETIES 



In the selection of varieties, it is not well to place implicit reliance 

 on, or be entirely governed by, what one can see at a large exhibition 

 of fruit. Of course very much valuable information can be gleaned 

 from the contents of the tables, but we shall show that this is not an 

 infallible guide. 



We think it a grave mistake for any grower for market to encumber 

 himself with too many varieties of anything. " Strong lines " 

 should be the motto, that is : good standard market varieties in 

 such quantities as to market in bulk. He who can offer a few 

 bushels or a few hundredweights of, say, Cox's Orange, is not in such 

 a commanding position to influence prices as he who has as many 

 tons. This is such a well-established fact that the wonder is anyone 

 should be so ill-advised as to act contrary to it. Whether it be a 

 question of apples or plums, pears or cherries, gooseberries or 

 strawberries, it applies equally, and, making due allowance for 

 succession, there should be few varieties in large quantities rather 

 than numerous varieties in smaller quantities of each. At every 

 fruit conference this fact is emphasized, as also is the expert opinions 

 as to what and which are, generally, the best varieties to grow. 

 There can be no excuse for any prospective planters to remain in 

 ignorance, and if some will obstinately adhere to preconceived 

 ideas against those of the greatest authorities, it must be accounted 

 as obstinacy rather than the want of being told. 



It is found to be a very convenient and economic arrangement 

 to select varieties that can bring grist to the mill throughout a 

 prolonged season, and for this early, mid-season, and late varieties, 

 in their varying degrees, should be planted. We are not quite sure 

 that this plan aggregates most grist, but its recommendation is its 



