AND HIS PLANT SCHOOL 167 



For two weeks each fall the carpet of the large living room 

 was removed, the ample fireplace opened, and on cranes 

 were hung big brass kettles for boiling cider. Then, as 

 the flames laughed and roared up the throat of the great 

 chimney, the family, in quiet mirth, encircled the hearth, 

 pared and quartered the apples for the winter's supply of 

 cider apple sauce. The story of Johnny Apple-seed, the 

 eccentric character who planted seeds of fruit trees in the 

 wilds of the Ohio Valley, 1801-1847, and those of other 

 heroes of early times, were often rehearsed. Many happy 

 winter evenings were passed around the New England 

 fireplace. 



"The mug of cider simmered slow 

 The apples sputtered in a row 

 And close at hand the basket stood 

 With nuts from brown October's wood." 



Here, no doubt, was formed the love for the apple which 

 helped to give to the future scientist patience and skill to 

 add to the already long list still other and better varieties 

 of apples. 



One of the first apple pupils was his old time friend, the 

 Williams. The master of the school, wishing to develop 

 the fruit, planted seeds from this apple, and as apple seed- 

 lings vary greatly, never coming true, there was a great 

 variety of young tree pupils to train. All those giving 

 promise of better fruit were grafted upon a large, strong 



