98 EDUCATE THE TASTE. 



are greater inducements offered to the producer now 

 than ten years ago. The average prices are highl- 

 and the demand still exceeds the supply. Once or 

 twice within a period of twelve years, pears have 

 been sold very low, and although, at the time, quite 

 discouraging to the producer, still such incidents, to 

 use a common phrase, pay well in the long run. 

 When choice fruit is plenty and cheap enough to be 

 bought freely by all, the taste is educated, and in 

 after years, this aquired taste has to be satisfied, 

 even at higher prices. Fine fruit, especially pears, 

 when sold from $16 to $30 per barrel are a luxury 

 that can only be indulged in by the wealthier classes. 

 But, like the small fruits, pears will eventually find 

 their way to the homes of the working classes. If 

 the time should ever come that one-half of the 

 amount now spent for alcoholic decoctions, should 

 go for choice fruit, what a difference there would be 

 in the homes of many of our poorer classes, now 

 rendered almost desolate by the use of intoxicating 

 drinks. 



As a nation we should use more fruit and less 

 animal food. Judging from the rapid increase in 

 the consumption of small fruits within a compara- 

 tively short time, there is no doubt but the demand 

 for pears will steadily keep paecwi;h the supply, 

 and no reason to fear that the markets will be over- 



