Choosing the Varieties. 225 
successful fruit-growing,—the obtainment of a spe- 
cific ideal. In the greater number of cases it is easy 
to answer questions as to what varieties to plant 
by asking the questioner what he wants to plant. 
He will commonly answer his own question fully. 
The intelligent question about varieties is that which 
asks for specific information; as, for example: 
What is the best red fall apple for southern Ohio? 
What is the earliest raspberry? What is the hardi- 
est apricot? What is the largest plum? What is 
the best strawberry for canning? Such questions 
as these indicate that the questioner has classified 
his own ideas, and that he is driving straight to 
the point for information; and they are usually 
capable of rather definite answer. When a man 
asks, “What variety of fruit shall I plant?” no one 
should attempt to answer. The writer has long 
since come to the practice of refusing to recom- 
mend specific varieties to individual persons. He 
prefers to name those varieties which he thinks 
might please himself for the purpose or place 
named, or to give lists of the kinds most likely to 
meet the requirements; but the grower must choose 
for himself. 
There are a few general rules or precepts which 
may be stated to aid the intending fruit-planter in 
the choice of varieties:* 
1. So far as possible, follow your own personal 
preferences,—the type of fruits which you love best 
*The whole question of the running out of varieties is discussed in “The 
Survival of the Unlike.” 
P 
