CHAPTER I. 



THE APPLE. 



" THE APPLE," says Downing, " is the world-renowned fruit 

 of temperate climates." Although less delicious than the 

 peach or pear, it possesses, from its great hardiness, easy 

 cultivation, productiveness, its long continuance through the 

 whole twelve months, and various uses, an importance not 

 equalled by any other fruit. 



Its value as a table fruit, or for cooking, and its increasing 

 importance as an article for exportation, are well known. 

 But its great value and cheapness as food for domestic animals 

 is very imperfectly comprehended or understood. Take for 

 example, a brief estimate : Where land is fifty dollars per 

 acre, an acre of good productive apple trees may be planted 

 and brought into bearing for as much more, making the 

 entire cost one hundred dollars. These will yield, as an 

 average, four hundred bushels annually, or ten bushels per 

 tree, if the best cultivation is given. The annual interest of 

 the orchard, at six per cent., is six dollars ; the annual cultiva- 

 tion will not exceed six more, or twelve dollars as the cost 

 of the whole crop on the trees, or three cents per bushel. In 

 many fertile parts of the country, where one plowing and 

 two or three harrowings each year would be all the cultiva- 

 tion needed, the cost of the ungathered crop would be only 

 a cent and a half per bushel. The value of sweet apples 

 for cattle and swine has proved to be fully equal to the 

 best root crops. No land-owner need therefore fear to plant 

 extensively, with a view of being furnished with a copious 

 supply of food for domestic animals, needing not, like other 

 crops, the yearly attention and care of procuring seed and 

 planting. 



