TO THE READER. 
SeEcrerary’s Orrick, 
Fairriztp, Jowa, April 8th, 1864. 
The treatise on fruit, to which this is introductory, was prepared at my 
earnest solicitation, to form a part of the Volume of Transactions of the 
Towa State Agricultural Society for 1863. Having read it to some friends, 
and they commending it very highly for its eminently practical teachings, 
its sound reasoning and its excellent qualities in all respects, I suggested 
to Mr. Beebee that it would be well to have some extra copies published in 
this present form, for distribution over the State. Ina volume of transac- 
tions alone, its usefulness would be greatly limited ; reproduced in this con- 
venient form, its benefits would be very widely extended. 
It seems but reasonable that Iowa farmers, Iowa stock-growers, Towa 
nurserymen, etc., in the candid detail of their several experiences, should 
establishiprinciples of higher value, facts of more certain application to the 
wants of Iowa, and which should have superior claims to attention, than 
those, who without practical knowledge of the peculiarities of our soil, 
climate, etc., write to inform the husbandry of the age. The entire vol- 
ume of transactions, of which this is a part, is the result of the observa- 
tions of our own citizens upon our own soil; and the perusal of the sev- 
eral articles on fruit—some written at the extreme North, others at the ex- 
treme South——will illustrate the idea of the importance and value of home 
thought, and home experiences, and that too much atiention cannot be 
paid to the varied influences of soil, climate, exposure, etc., even in our 
own State, in the successful growing of fruit. 
The essay of Mr. Beebee is especially valuable, because it is the result of 
A long residence and extended series 
Towa Strate AGRICULTURAL Soorrry, 
practical experience upon our own soil. 
of intelligent observation, have enabled the author to present facts of great 
interest and value to the people of the State. While it may not be appli- 
cable in its teachings to other regions of country, and while some of its 
positions may seem untenable, some of its recommendations novel and per- 
haps injudicious, to those who have grown fruit under different cireumstan- 
ces of location, yet, that it has been successful here, and can be made so 
at all times, there is no question. 
It has been said, and perhaps with truth, that the National Department 
of Agriculture cannot accomplish the wise designs of its friends and advo- 
cates, because the country is too diversified in climate and soil, to make such 
‘a distribution of seeds, plants, ete., as will be snitable to that diversity. 
he “STATES 
COLLEY. te SEOUL T ORE, 
DEPARTMENT GF HOTICULTURE, 
COSLELL UN VTRSITY, 
; ‘THACA, fi. ¥, 
ef 
