KG STATE TOPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



THE SCIENCE OF APPLE EATING. 



The boy is indeed the true apple eater, and is not to be questioned how lie 

 came by the fruit with which his pockets are filled. It belongs to him, and he 

 may steal it if it can not be had in any other way. His own juicy flesh craves 

 the juicy flesh of the apple. Sap draws sap. His fruit eating has little refer- 

 ence to the state of his appetite. Whether he be full of meat or empty of meat 

 he wants the apple just the same. Before meal or after meal, it never comes 

 amiss. The farm boy munches apples all day long. He has nests of them in 

 the hay-mow, mellowing, to which he makes frequent visits. Sometimes old 

 Brindle, having access through the open door, smells them out and makes short 

 work of them. 



The apple is indeed the fruit of youth. As we grow old we crave apples less. 

 It is an ominous sign. When you are ashamed to be seen eating them on the 

 street ; when you can carry them in your pocket and your hand not constantly 

 find its way to them ; when your neighbor has apples and you have none, and 

 you make no nocturnal visits to his orchard ; when your lunch basket is with- 

 out them, and you can pass a winter's night by the fireside with no thought of 

 the fruit at your elbow, then be assured you are no longer a boy, either in heart 

 or years. 



The genuine apple-eater comforts himself with an apple in its season as 

 others with a pipe or cigar. When he has nothing else to do, or is bored, he 

 eats an apple. While he is waiting for the train he eats an apple, sometimes 

 several of them. When he takes a walk he arms himself with apples. His 

 traveling-bag is full of apples. He offers an apple to his companion, and takes 

 one himself. They are his chief solace when on the road. He sows their seed 

 all along the route. He tosses the core from the car window and from the top 

 of the stage-coach. He would, in time, make the land one vast orchard. He 

 dispenses with a knife. He prefers that his teeth shall have the first taste. 

 Then he knows the best flavor is immediately beneath the skin, and that in a 

 pared apple this is lost. If you will stew the apple, he says, instead of baking 

 it, by all means leave the skin on. It improves the color, and vastly heightens 

 the flavor of the dish. — John Burroughs, in Winter Sunshine. 



THE NORTIIEKN SPY. 



This variety has been in some dispute among farmers on account of the de- 

 lay of young trees in coming into bearing. It is found, however, that when 

 fully establisbed it is a constant bearer, and each alternate year bears a full 

 crop. It needs a hot summer to bring out its best points in color and maturity, 

 and our present season seems just adapted to it. The crop is unusually fair and 

 large this year, and is already beginning to color considerably. The Spy is 

 usually one of the latest varieties to ripen, and is also disposed to overbear in 

 the years when it is full. The thinning out should be in the centre of the tree, 

 and should also include vigorous pruning of the center, as its upright habit 

 and strong growth arc apt to leave too large a mass of foliage. These peculi- 



