LUTHER BURBANK 



tiveness, but they are eager for an attractive fruit 

 — large, bright-colored, handsome; in particular 

 for one that is very solid — so hard that it can be 

 handled like a cannon-ball, which makes it a 

 superb shipper. 



The consumer, on the other hand, prefers a 

 reasonably tender, highly flavored, and easily di- 

 gestible fruit. 



Unfortunately the consumer seldom obtains 

 such a fruit unless it is grown nearby or within 

 his own community; for the ideals of the shipper 

 and the dealer, at variance with his preferences, 

 intervene between him and the orchardist. 



For instance, better varieties of strawberries 

 for table use have been developed than can be 

 found in any market; better in quality, aroma and 

 sweetness. The average consumer is never per- 

 mitted to see them, or to experience their luscious- 

 ness. They are eliminated from the growers' list 

 of fruits, because they do not meet the demands 

 of the shipper and the dealer. 



The consumer usually obtains the best that the 

 producer, the shipper, and the dealer can furnish, 

 under the conditions with which they have to 

 contend; the fault is not theirs, but that of modern 

 civilization. 



I mention all this merely to show that varieties 

 the production of which is useful and profitable, 



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