Introductory Discussion 3 



centers of population, to market any fruit extensively 

 would mean shipment to distant points. This is a con- 

 venient outlet for surplus, but the net returns are nearly 

 always less than those secured at home. This home mar- 

 ket never pays the fancy price that the grower is likely to 

 hold in his mind as the ideal for his efforts; neither does 

 it expect to secure fruit at the glut prices which often pre- 

 vail in the large markets. This market will take what it 

 requires, at prices that afford fair profits to the intelligent 

 grower. It is the part of wisdom to try to meet the de- 

 mands of this home trade. This means that the grower 

 should raise more of some things, and leave out other 

 things which he would like to grow. If he grows goose- 

 berries, the home market may not want them; these must 

 be shipped. For strawberries and raspberries the market 

 is hungry. He can therefore grow a certain quantity 

 at a good profit, while to grow them largely would 

 doubtless prove unprofitable. Peaches, likewise, are much 

 in demand. The best trade is often from the farmers, who 

 sometimes come as far as ten miles to get the fruit and 

 take it home with them. These persons come to look the 

 grower's way for such fruit as they want whether he grows 

 it or not. It is wise to meet their demands more fully. 



It will readily be seen that the conditions prevailing 

 at such a location are very different from those in a 

 strictly fruit-growing locality, where most farmers are 

 producers rather than consumers. Yet many a grower 

 will find its counterpart in his own situation. Its citation 

 merely serves to emphasize the old problem of diversity 

 of surroundings and the need of individuality in meeting 

 a given problem. 



