Horticulture and Fruit Raising. 329 



nourishment for the indwellers of every home circle through- 

 out Vermont and the wide world. Nevertheless i't is aston- 

 ishing to every experienced person, that so little attention 

 is paid to this important branch of agriculture. To say 

 nothing of the profits to be derived from the horticultural 

 department, there is an untold satisfaction in the propaga- 

 tion and cultivation of fruit and flowers that makes them 

 attractive, and adds much to the happiness of the domestic 

 circle. For want of adaptation but very few among our far- 

 mers become experts in the horticultural department of 

 labor ; and yet among the vast many who pay but little 

 attention to this important branch, there are some even 

 whose taste and skill would be fully adequate to such a posi- 

 tion, were it not for the hard pressure of business in other 

 departments of agriculture. 



And here, in my opinion, comes in one of the grand mis 

 takes to whicli farmers subject themselves ; for of all the 

 crops that farmers raise upon their farms, let fruits of the 

 choicest varieties be the last to be neglected. For no crop, 

 in my opinion, among those that furnish food, is more remu- 

 nerative to the common farmer than well selected and well 

 cultivated fruit. Furthermore, it is conceded on all hands, 

 and especially are physicians agreed that among tlie various 

 products of the farm, none are more healthy or more nutri 

 tious tiian the fruits we raise. And amono- the fruits the 

 apple takes the first rank. It is said by good authority that 

 the apple contains a larger amount of phosphorus than any 

 other of the ordinary fruits or vegetables, and as this is one 

 of the most important elements in the nourishment of the 

 brain, and especially necessary to those who work with the 



