SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 113 



The elder Pliny describes "more than 20 varieties of apples," and 

 says it is "one of the two fruits which may be preserved (kept) in 

 casks ;" from which it would seem but little improvement has been 

 made in keeping apples in 1,900 years. (See Ag. Eep. '88-9, p. 285.) 



THE HISTORY 



Of the apple is unwritten. That it came from Western Asia there is 

 little doubt, and, it is probable, with the pear, was introduced from 

 Europe into England (Britain) by the Romans under Ctesar. But it 

 was left to the Christian religion (the greatest civilizing influence the 

 world has ever known) to plant orchards and make the fruit common 

 in that early day of British semi-civilization. 



The Pilgrim Fathers brought apple trees with them, and the In- 

 dians helped to spread the fruit in "Indian orchards" — common in New 

 England — and one extensive cotton manufactory brands its products 

 "Indian Orchard." But until within 40 years no special effort was made 

 to extend the culture beyond "family supply," and the markets were 

 sparsely supplied with poor quality and variety. A. J. Downing gave 

 fruitgrowing a fresh impetus, and now 1,000,000 acres are planted to 

 apples, with demand beyond supply. What a debt of gratitude is due 

 Downing, Warder, Barry and the pioneers who devoted their lives to 

 developing and demonstrating the possibilities of wealth, comfort and 

 happiness in an apple orchard. 



POSSIBILITIES. 



We are confronted at every step with the "chronic growler," and 

 told there will be no market for the immense increase of product, and 

 had better cut down rather than plant more orchards. 



The apple thrives only in the temperate zone — cannot be grown in 

 a hot, very cold or high dry climate, nor on wet or damp soil, nor where 

 irrigation is necessary. It cannot be grown in India, nor in China, 

 where American apples, fresh as in our home markets are eagerly 

 sought. The humidity of England assures a good market for American 

 apples at remunerative prices. 



Like the higher type of the Caucasian, it is refined and cultured, 

 and thrives only with enlightened treatment, and has the great conti- 

 nent of Africa, now being opened to civilization, commerce and Christi- 

 anity, with its teeming millions of barbarous and half-civilized popula- 

 tion, and climate unfit for apple culture, as a prospective market for 

 1,000 years — or all time. 



With an ever increasing population, ever extending avenues of 

 transportation, ever growing value and ever opening of new markets 

 h r — 8 



