80 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETT. 



PLEASURE AKD PROFIT IN FRUIT CULTURE. 



At first and even to this day liaving in mind only the pleasures of 

 cultivation and an abundance of fruit for the family, the work of 

 fruit culture has been carried on from year to year. So responsive 

 are all the fruits to good cultivation that during the past few years 

 there has been a liberal surplus for sale, which kept the sugar 

 barrel filled and increased the children's bank accounts. We have 

 been surprised all the way along to note how quickly one may 

 raise an abundance of fruits for home use, and when your genial 

 Secretary very kindly invited me to prepare a paper for this occasion, 

 I did not hesitate, for I knew that a simple recital of seven years' 

 work would be an easy matter and, best of all, might prove helpful to 

 hundreds of others who are ready and eager to raise fruits for the 

 home, if only the difficulties are not too great. Engaged as I am in 

 business, where every moment of time is valuable, where there is a 

 constant strain upon the nerves, all my thoughts are at work, I stole 

 away the time necessary to carry on my garden, doing with my own 

 hands the larger part of the labor, and to-day I stand before you here 

 in perfect health and strength, knowing that without my garden 

 recreation many of my business duties would have to be laid aside and 

 possibly myself a prematurely old 3'oung man. Then, again, working 

 in the open air, cultivating flowers and fruit, my family are in better 

 health than seven years ago, knowing, thank God, that our health 

 and strength have been improved by living in His sunshine and feasting 

 upon the good things He has so wisely placed within the reach of every 

 man who controls a few I'ods of land in this good old State of Maine. 



FOUR ESSENTIALS IN MAINE FRUIT CULTURE. 



Before closing I wish to summarize what in detail 1 have spread 

 out before you. The esftentials of fruit culture in Maine are not very 

 many and are within the control of most. 



First. Any location where corn or potatoes will do well will pro- 

 duce fruits. Our own notion is, however, that the location should be ■ 

 near the house and, if possible, where the wind will neither blow the 

 snow off nor pile it up in. drifts. If the soil happens to be wet it 

 must be well drained, when the results are likely to be just as good. 



Second. It makes very much difference what kind of culture the soil 

 receives. There is really very little danger of making the soil too 

 rich by dressing liberally with barn-yard manure, so far as possible 



