FRUIT INTERESTS OF THE STATE. 
23 
comes more abundant, buyers become more critical, and 
look closer at quality. Our growers must, therefore, learn 
to give careful attention to quality and to attractive pack¬ 
ing, in order that their product may successfully pass 
critical inspection. 
Observation leads to the conclusion, that as yet, this 
matter is not receiving the attention it should. The 
fact that appearance largely influences sales, is not fully 
appreciated. 
A word regarding the purchase of trees may not be 
out of place here. Buy only of nurserymen of known 
reliability, and give preference, so far as possible, to home 
enterprise and home-grown trees. In this remark, I but 
reiterate the advice that has been frequently given. It is, 
however, good advice. To order a dozen varieties of 
grapes, care for them, and on fruiting, find them all Con¬ 
cords, or to buy a dozen varieties of apples, which after 
several years of waiting, prove to be all Ben Davis, may 
not be a total loss to the buyer, but the transaction is not 
altogether satisfactory ; yet these, and even worse, experi¬ 
ences have been related. Mistakes cannot always be 
avoided, but we believe following the advice above given 
will greatly lessen the liability of their occurrence. Your 
home nurseryman may charge a little more for trees than 
they can be bought for elsewhere, but, if you can depend 
upon his integrity, it is better to take his guarantee of 
trueness to name and pay the advanced price, than to 
meet disappointment and possible loss when your trees 
reach bearing age. 
This report is preliminary. It is the intention to fol¬ 
low, during the coming year, with one aiming at a more 
complete presentation of the fruit interests of the entire 
State, and to embody therein such details of orchard 
management, tests of varieties and other information as 
may be deemed useful to fruit growers. We desire to 
