VI' PREFACE 



practical language descriptions of such varieties as are 

 most in demand in our markets, and the methods prac- 

 ticed by the most successful cultivators of many sections 

 of the country; to deal with principles first and with 

 the practice afterward, for the practice to be successful 

 must be based upon correct principles, while the practice 

 will always be varied by the progressive fruit grower 

 according to his immediate conditions and environment. 

 The foundation principles of plant growth and nourish- 

 ment, however, must always remain the same. 



No one can foresee what results the changing con- 

 ditions from year to year of our own country or of 

 those of other countries of the world may bring about 

 in our methods of fruit growing, and the progressive 

 fruit grower must be ready to adapt himself to these 

 conditions or be left behind in the march of competition. 

 The Northern States cannot expect to compete suc- 

 cessfully with the more southern of our own States in 

 growing our native fruits out of season, but each section 

 can produce them to such a degree of perfection and put 

 them into the hands of the consumer in such a fresh 

 and attractive condition that there need be little desire 

 on the part of dealers or consumers in any community 

 to send beyond their own limits for their supply of 

 fresh fruit in its season. 



We should also make an effort to supply any de- 

 mand that may come from less favored countries, and, 

 properly managed, this demand for our native fruits 

 should assume very large proportions, but the main , 

 effort of the fruit growers, for whom this book is 

 written, should be to supply their own sections with 

 fruit in such an abundance and perfection and at such 

 prices that the inferior products of other sections and 

 other countries cannot secure our markets against the 

 home supply. S. T. Matnabd. 



NoRTHBORO, Mass., 1905. 



