CHAPTER VIII 



ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES 



What may happen to a fruit-plantation is beyond the 

 wisdom of any man to foresee. One may be sure of having 

 difficulties that are not set down in the books. Hail, 

 wind, frost, drought, roaming Hve-stock, bad places in 

 the land, trees not true to name, are among the proba- 

 bihties. Some of the prevailing injuries that may be 

 more or less remedied are mentioned in this separate 

 chapter. 



Probably the greatest menace to the fruit-plantation 

 is the hired man. Some men have no feeling for a tree. 

 They will run over young trees, bark and scratch old ones, 

 and break the limbs with no blush of conscience and 

 with no care to bind up and mend the wounds. They are 

 likely to work special evil in grubbing for borers, cutting 

 more than is necessary, covering up shiftless work, and 

 perhaps leaving the borer for bait. Discrimination in the 

 choice of help is a prime consideration on a fruit-farm, not 

 only in the care of the trees but also in the handling of the 

 fruit after it is mature. Herein is one of the advantages 

 of living in a fruit country, where most of the hired help 

 has had some training in the business. Green and in- 

 experienced hands should not be left alone in a fruit- 

 plantation. The only safe man for such a plantation is 

 one who feels that the welfare of the fruit-trees or plants 

 is his first consideration; he must like the fruit-growing 

 business and be proud of his connection with it. 



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