GARDENING. 15 



Sweet apples contained a greater amount of nutrition. 

 Unripe Baldwins gave eighty-seven per cent of water, with 

 a less amount of albuminoids and sugar than the others. 

 From this it appears that a tree bearing thirty bushels of 

 fruit suspends in the air about half a ton of water ; the 

 soluble nutritive material in a bushel of apples being only 

 about six pounds. 



The analysis of Early Rose potatoes, also made by the 

 same eminent authority, gives the following value : — 



Water 78.01 



Albumen, caseiiie, vegetable fibrins . . . . 3.19 



Gum pectine and organic acids 3.06 



Fat 05 



Starch 13.40 



Cellulose and ash 2.29 



100.00 



The comparison shows that the potato, as a food, has much 

 greater value than the apple. It may, however, be believed 

 that the apple is of more value than chemistry indicates, 

 because the animals enjoy it : it thus increases appetite, and 

 assists digestion and condition. 



The shipments to England on a scale unprecedented will 

 have the effect of creating a market for our fruit there that 

 we have not heretofore enjoyed. Farmers and dealers have 

 found the outlet, and the British public have had the taste 

 of splendid fruit. Another year will see a demand that will 

 be ready to pay higher prices than were realized during the 

 unexpected abundance. 



GARDENING. 



Part of the agricultural system of the Commonwealth, 

 important in the value of aggregate production, — adding to 

 the variety of our city markets, the luxury of living, and 

 the health and comfort of families, — is the produce of market 

 gardens and the gardening for family use. Of this civilizing 

 adjunct to our economy there are but few accessible returns, 

 the reports of assessors and census-takers not reaching the 

 home branch of production. 



The last census of the Commonwealth included a series 

 of inquiries into the affairs of wage and salary receivers of 



