32 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



they are worthy of more attention than they have generally received. Last 

 week's quotations in New York were as follows: 



Baldwin and Greenings $2 to $2.25 per bbl. 



Gilliflowers $2.25 to $3 per bbl. 



Ben Davis and Steel's Ked $2.75 to $3.25. 



Ben Davis at par with one of the best. 



It is possible that, the beautiful polish that follows the rub of the greasy 

 coat-sleeve of the Italian may have its effect, but this is no exceptional 

 quotation. It has been the rule for years, and probably no two apples can 

 be produced so cheaply as Gilliflowers and Ben Davis; and yet we fail to 

 grow them to the extent wanted, because not up to our standard of 

 excellence. 



Again, for years past there has been a scarcity of good fall varieties of 

 apple which are adapted to the city fruit stands. The high prices that 

 have prevailed for such apples fully illustrate the force attached to this- 

 statement. Stump apples, put up in peck baskets, have within three 

 years sold at eighty cents per basket, while Mcintosh Red (late fall and 

 early winter) have repeatedly sold at $2 to $2.50 in half barrels. Has not 

 the neglect to grow more good autumn apples been a great mistake? 



DIVERSIFY YOUR PRODUCT. 



The commercial orchardist, in my opinion, is quite apt to make all his 

 ventures in one direction. By this I mean to go too exclusively into one 

 kind of fruit. To illustrate, all apples or all peaches, and so on, when, in 

 fact, common-sense and good judgment would dictate a more general line 

 of such fruits as may be grown successfully upon his soil, and for which 

 there may be good market, so that in the event of a failure of one there 

 may be others from which may be sold sufficient to pay current expenses. 

 The pear, plum, quince, currant, gooseberry, blackberry, etc., are all 

 factors to be considered in this proposition. Said a party to me, two- 

 years since, who has a fifty-acre Baldwin orchard from which he has 

 had only one full crop in five years, " Had it not been for that plantation 

 of blackberries, I could not have paid my family expenses for the past 

 two years.'- Such instances could be multiplied, and show the wisdom of 

 the adoption of the plan proposed when feasible. We would say, then» 

 adopt the system of mixed husbandry, where possible, and grow as great 

 a variety as circumstances, of which you are the best judge, will premit,. 

 and you avoid one of the mistakes too often made. 



Much might be said as to the value of good crops of small fruits, such 

 as currants and gooseberries but our limited time will not permit. In 

 general, when a good market, is accessible, they are very profitable, and 

 prices as a rule, in western New York, have been well maintained. 



In the state I have the honor to represent, it has been reported as a fact 

 that seventy-five per cent, of all the dairy cows fail to pay their owners any 

 profit. Think of it — seventy-five out of every one hundred cows stabled, 

 fed, milked, and product marketed at a loss! My own slight experience 

 in the cow business would incline me to the opinion that the statement is 

 correct. The fact is, they give no cream. The milk is worthless except in the 

 hands of the milkmen, who will buy only at very low prices so long as 

 good hydrants are within easy access. 



We say this is a sad commentary on the intelligence and business saga- 



