PREFACE. v 



Some state a preference for soft fruit, while others prefer crisp ones. Some fruits deserve to 

 be chosen above all the others, independently of the whims of taste. Granting that, it seems 

 that a general rule could be made to choose the better fruit rather than the average ones. As 

 natural as that seems, we daresay that such a rule has its limits. For example, someone who 

 in fact planted only wild strawberry bushes, Montmorency cherry trees, Dauphine plum 

 trees, Great Mignonne peach trees, butter pear trees, &c. would have fruits widely reputed 

 to be the best. But every year he will undergo long periods of scarcity, & nothing goes 

 against good economy more than stocking up abundantly on the best fruit of all for several 

 months & then remaining deprived for the rest of the year. It would seem to be more 

 reasonable to plan carefully for a succession of fruit, so that even if there isn't always an 

 abundance in excess, there never would be a severe lack. So since it's impossible to have 

 exceptional fruit the whole year, at least make sure never to be without the ordinary ones. 

 That's the way to use nature's gifts wisely. To be certain of having these resources, plant 

 species & varieties of trees whose fruit follows in succession from the earliest to the latest, 

 thus adjusting the number of each type to the requirements of the season in which it ripens. 

 A planting won't accomplish its objective at all when the fruits of too many trees ripen all 

 at the same time, yielding only a short-lived surplus and lacking species with fruit that 

 continues on until new ones appear. 



