tt is a fact, that fruit " carries " better and " stands up " longer 

 in one package than another^ — if baskets of a certain size and 

 pattern find more favor with consumers and bring better prices, 

 the informfition has a CMsh vnlue to us all. I shall not get my- 

 self into a hornet's nest by criticising any of the perfect (?) 

 patents offered, but merely mention those toward which the 

 weight of favorable opinion in the market inclines. If I can 

 by these means bring the growers and consumers into more direct 

 communication, it w^ould seem that I could scarcely fail in serving 

 both. 



Should this little venture meet with success, I may add a 

 supplement from year to year, giving the results of my. own, and- 

 the experiments of others, during the twelve months, and the 

 conclusions of my own observation and the opinions of practical 

 fruit-growers concerning the new varieties that are competing for 

 public favor ; a correspondence from Maine to California will 

 preserve this judgment from a merely local coloring. 



I hope my little manual will lead many more into the garden. 

 It is a good place to be, or man — and woman also — would not 

 have been placed there in their first perfect condition. 



Wishing you nothing worse than ripe luscious berries three 

 times a day for the three summer months I remain : 

 Yours in the bonds of the ancient and 



Honorable guild of gardening, 



E. P ROE. 

 CoRNWALL-ou -THE- Hudson, N. Y. 



