FRUIT CULTURE. 149 



interest in the matter has been quite remarkable. It has been 

 intimated that the amount of premiums offered was not suffi- 

 cient, if gained, to pay the expenses of getting fruit ready for 

 exhibition, which will appear considerable, if we call to mind 

 the labor of collecting, transportation, the damage done to the 

 fully ripe specimens, and loss from gathering fruit before it is 

 ripe. This excuse, if offered by a poor man who does not make 

 fruit-growing his business, might be considered good ; but a 

 man of wealth would, of course, hesitate, before offering such 

 an apology, if it occurred to him that he might so easily aid a 

 good cause and gratify a large class of his fellow-citizens. One 

 would suppose that the professed fruit-grower would not need 

 to be urged to bring forward his fruit for exhibition, as it is the 

 cheapest advertisement of his business, whether he gets a 

 premium or not. 



Of all the fruit grown in the county, apples are, unquestion- 

 ably, of most importance ; their healthfulness, their many uses, 

 their keeping qualities, their cheapness, make them indispensable 

 to the comforts of every family. The demand for this fruit is 

 constantly on the increase, and the planting of orchards seems 

 to keep pace with the growing demand. All over the county, 

 young orchards may be seen, in the most thrifty condition. 

 The management of apple trees is so simple, that almost all 

 farmers cultivate more or less successfully, if they make the 

 effort. It is true, the best kinds are not always grown, nor the 

 old practice of seeding the orchard to grass wholly discarded, 

 but that there is a very general improvement in the care of 

 trees is very observable. Too many of the very old orchards, 

 damaged by neglect past all recovery, the fruit of which was 

 good enough in its day, but now deteriorated, remain to 

 tantalize their owners with the expectations of fruit which will 

 never be realized. The best way would be, to let them totally 

 perish, and to plant vigorous young trees, which, with care, 

 will soon come into bearing. 



It is a well settled fact that the apple tree will grow and 

 thrive on any soil, except a wet one, if one condition be com- 

 plied with ; and that is, that the land shall receive annual cul- 

 tivation. Of course, to obtain large crops of the best fruit, a 

 good soil is necessary ; but no one should be deterred from 

 planting apple trees, because his soil is poor ; he will succeed 



