PRACTICAL FARMING. 373 



subject, that a tree at one year old, properly set out, will cost a 

 dollar, and none of the best varieties of apple trees need cost 

 more, at that age. Proper care and cultivation by way of stir- 

 ring the ground, manuring and mulching, will cost a dollar a 

 year for the first ten years, making in all ten dollars. When ten 

 years old, it will begin to make a good return, and at the expira- 

 tion of ten years more, it will have paid all costs, interest on the 

 outlay and rent of the land. Then you have the tree free of cost 

 for the rest of your life, and it will be a good legacy to your 

 children, living and producing to the memory of its planter. 

 But remember it is useless to set out fruit trees, unless you can 

 aiford to take care of them, and have made up your mind to do 

 so. They are not profitable if neglected. 



But some may say that everybody is beginning to raise fruit, 

 and the market will be overstocked. It is important to boar in 

 mind, however, that it is but a comparatively small part of the 

 world that is capable of producing that noble and delicious 

 fruit, the apple, in perfection, and that many other countries 

 must look to us for it. The ice trade, which has grownup 

 within the last few years, gives facilities for the transportation 

 of all our fruits in perfection to all parts of the world. And 

 when it is considered that our commerce now penetrates every 

 sea, some idea may be formed of the extensive markets that are 

 open to us. Let not this idea of too much competition deter 

 the farmer from setting out and taking care of a good apple 

 orchard. There seems to be no good reason for fear on this 

 account. 



It is surprising that so little attention is paid to the cultiva- 

 tion of the smaller fruits by farmers who have land enough 

 admirably adapted to them, and who, following the routine of 

 the staple crops, which require great labor in proportion to the 

 profit, complain constantly that farming will not pay. The 

 demand for the raspberry and the blackl)erry has never been 

 fully supplied in any of our large cities. These fruits have 

 many things to recommend their more extensive cultivation. 

 Tliey are easily raised, and the labor upon them is less irksome 

 than upon many of the larger crops. Tlicy will bear well in 

 land partially shaded, and hence may be grown under fences 

 and walls, and among larger fruit trees. They may be culti- 

 vated on lands which cannot easily be ploughed, either from 



