332 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



of taste among men, and to commercial qualities of fruit, 

 and to its adaptation to soil and climate. 



No one man lias a right to make his tongue the monarch 

 over other people s tongues. Therefore, for instance, it is 

 none of our business, if a rugged mouth chooses to roll a 

 slice of the austere Vanderveer pippin, like sin, as a sweet 

 morsel unde*r his tongue. The mild delicacy of an apple, 

 which fills our mouths with admiration, would be mere insi 

 pidity to all who are favored with leather mouths. So that 

 there must be toleration even among apple-mongers. 



Nor are the humbler tests of cooking to be overlooked. 

 Some fruits are good eaters and poor cookers ; some cook 

 well but are villainous to the taste Avhen raw ; some will 

 stew to a fine flavor and sweetness without sugar, and some 

 have remarkable j elly properties. But after the largest allow 

 ance is made for taste, hardiness, keeping, prolific bearing, 

 color, size, texture, season, adaptation to soils, etc., etc.. 

 there will be found, we think, a large number of tenants in 

 our nurserymen s catalogues, upon whom should be instantly 

 served a writ of ejectment. 



TIME FOR PRUNING. 



do not believe in severe pruning at any time. If a 

 man has the education of his orchard from the start, it is an 

 utter abomination to leave his trees in such a condition as 

 to require it. If, however, one comes into possession of a 

 much abused orchard, or of a seedling orchard ; or, if a 

 single tree is to be changed, or an old tree is to be headed 

 back for health s sake, then it may be necessary to prune 

 with a free hand. But in such cases, the change should 

 not be- attempted in one season, but divided between two. 



There is, we suppose, a critical time in which pruning 

 will injure the tree. It is after the sap is in full motion, the 



