22 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



them think that they want it. In its common levels, fruit- 

 growing, like every other business, is undoubtedly over- 

 done, and there is only a precarious living in it. This is 

 specially illustrated in apple-growing, — to which the least 

 skillful attention has been given,— for the years of crop are 

 years of low prices. This means that apple-growers allow 

 the seasons and other circumstances to dictate the bear- 

 ing time of the orchard, and when one man has a crop other 

 men may have a crop. Yet there is no fruit that comes so 

 near to being a staple commodity as does the apple, and 

 none that has a longer market season, or is capable of 

 manufacture into a greater number of secondary products. 

 The demand for first-class apples, delivered in prime con- 

 dition at the proper moment, is seldom fully satisfied. 



The most profitable stock-in-trade of the fruit-grower, 

 therefore, is training for his work; and if a good part of 

 his training is in business methods, very much will be 

 gained, for there are probably ten men who can grow a 

 given quality of fruit where there is one who can sell it to 

 advantage. All this is proved by the fact that many 

 successful farmers were not brought up on the farm, or 

 they soon left it for other business. Good business men 

 are likely to make a success of farming, if they are not 

 too old and if they have learned the occupation. They 

 come into the business with trained minds, skilled judg- 

 ment, and especially without too much prejudice. They 

 are willing to learn, and they quickly assimilate new ideas. 



There are most important non-commercial rewards in 

 fruit-growing. A fruit-grower need not set before himself 

 the single standard of money-getting. The end of life is 

 satisfaction, and it may often be secured just as well on a 

 moderate income as on a large one. It is one of the bless- 

 ings that agriculture bestows on both the individual and 



