Amateur Fruit Growing

This illustrated book was published in 1894 and is a practical guide to the growing of fruit for home and market. Written with special reference to colder climates. .............................................................................. From the book's Introduction: My experience as teacher of Horticulture in the School of Agriculture of the University of Minnesota I have not been able to find a book on fruit growing at all adapted to the wants of the students coming under my instruction. In fact, I soon found that the material along this line consisted princi- pally of papers scattered through reports of the various hor- ticultural societies and in the agricultural press, and that these were not generally available, nor, indeed, sufficiently condensed for my purpose. The peculiar conditions that obtain in this section of the country, and which render the works of Eastern authorities of little practical value here, made it desirable for me to have some practical book on fruit growing that the students could study and refer to at their convenience. Another reason for presenting this book is that by so doing I might answer the many questions relating to the subject treated, which have been often referred to me, and which have required much time and attention in correspondence. The book is written for the beginner and is not offered as a complete manual of Horticulture, although it is believed to cover all the important points in practical fruit growing. But few varieties are recommended, and only the kinds that have been tried for some considerable period and can be ob- tained from the general nurserymen. Untried and little known kinds have been purposely avoided, however well they may have appeared. It is my earnest wish that new varieties be let alone by the amateur in horticulture, and that, instead of beginning with novelties in fruits, as is too often the case, he will postpone their trial until he has first tried those kinds that are known to be desirable. Varieties of many fruits, especially of small fruits, seldom last in full vigor for more than a score of years, and often after a much less time they are superceded by new and bet- ter kinds. There are many novelties in fruits introduced each year, but in my experience not one new variety in ten that is offered for sale is worthy of trial. It is my intention to issue a supplementary fruit list as often as may seem desirable, and lists of fruits recommended in this work may be supplemented by reference to the fruit lists of the different horticultural soci- eties.