SCIONS FOLLOW THE PAEENT STOCK. 181 



the odd years, but if you take them from that, they will bear 

 the even years." If I remember rightly, my fiiith in his creed 

 at that time was very weak, but I decided to take half from 

 each row. The result, however, verified his assertion until 

 last year, when every tree in the orchard seemed bent on doing 

 its level best. Those whose fruit was due this year produced 

 about one-half barrel each. I asked the old gentleman how 

 so remarkable a phenomenon was produced. He replied, "If 

 you want to make an apple-tree bear next year, you must 

 pick the blossoms oflf this year, and in that way you can 

 change the bearing year, and the scions of the tree will inherit 

 the tendencies of the parent stock." 



I had thought of examining this subject in the light of an 

 investment, and comparing its net profits with that of other 

 crops. But realizing that our time is precious this afternoon, 

 and that there are many gentlemen present who are anxious 

 to take up the matter of small-fruit culture, I will just say 

 that I have a small vineyard which has never failed to ripen 

 its fruit till this year. I raise a few currants and some straw- 

 berries, and I cut some asparagus. I manage these crops 

 according to the best of my ability, and yet none of them 

 return so great a net profit as the small orchard before 

 alluded to. 



The labor of setting an orchard and taking care of it for 

 the first ten or fifteen years is light and trifling, compared 

 with that bestowed on some of the small fruits. One hour 

 spent daily for ten days in the year, will afibrd ample time for 

 pruning, washing, looking after the borer, and removing the 

 caterpillars in an orchard of fifty trees. This work is not 

 laborious, and can be done by boys or old men. 



The apple is one of the oldest and best of fruits. Its con- 

 sumption is more universal than any other grown in this 

 latitude ; in fact, the man, woman or child who was not 

 fond of apples, would be a curiosity well worthy the acquisi- 

 tion of the great showman. It can be kept a long time with- 

 out losing its flavor, or material loss from decay, and it is 

 really a matter of serious regret, that the current of popular 

 prejudice in Massachusetts is setting so strong against its cul- 

 tivation. 



Let me say, then, to the young men who have decided to 



