INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Xlll 



thought to its culture, but a fine pear or apple is as 

 easily obtained as a poor one, takes no more room, 

 and needs no more attention. Well, therefore, may 

 Downing exclaim, " He who owns a rood of proper 

 land in this country, and, in the face of all the pomonal 

 riches of the day, only raises crabs and choke-pears, 

 deserves to lose the respect of all sensible men ; " and 

 what he thus says concerning America is certainly at 

 least as applicable in our more limited territory, where 

 we have not even quantity to atone in some degree 

 for any deficiencies in point of quality. 



