1896.] TRANSACTIONS. 21 



would likely be largely increased by such distribution, in tiie 

 long run, under the guaranty of the Society. In that way also 

 would varieties be more widely diffused, the community becom- 

 ing gainers since the market would be more freely and fully 

 stocked. I have heard the statement, by men who ought to 

 know, that keen scrutiny would detect new and noteworthy 

 Apples in almost every Town of Worcester County. Perhaps 

 the geese might not all be swans ! But neither was the Baldwin 

 so highly accounted when first discovered and scarcely appre- 

 ciated in its original cow-pasture. In this respect, our farmers 

 are too modest by half and stand in their own rustic light 

 because of their lack of urban cheek ! The fingers of both hands 

 will scarcely keep tally of the noteworthy, if not first-class 

 Apples whose origin is traced directly to Worcester County. 

 Would it not repay our efiorts to hunt them up ; to take care 

 that their scions are generally secured and engrafted ; and to 

 determine practically if there shall be no future genesis of new 

 and palatable varieties in other towns than Hubbardston, Sterl- 

 ing, or Sutton ; leaving out of consideration Worcester, — in 

 which Architecture is running a close race with those occupa- 

 tions that fructify rather than cumber the ground ! 



But even then of what use will it be to grow nice and abun- 

 dant specimens, of anysoever variety, if they are to be stored 

 away, — not to be had when wanted. While this is written, not 

 a barrel of Gravenstein could be discovered along Main Street, 

 by one who would have gladly purchased, in a stretch of a mile. 

 It has been problematical, for long, whether it does not cost 

 dearly to live in Worcester, much more than it ought when you 

 make a just apportionment between civic consumption and rural 

 production. People must know that things exist, and can be 

 had, before they can take a fancy to them ; and should find them 

 profiered in plain sight, along public thoroughfares, that they 

 may be tempted to purchase. We hear more than enough glib 

 talk, about Election-time, of the Home-Market! and of how 

 essential it is to manufacturers that they should be fostered upon 

 the pap of Protection ! But what kind of a home-market is that 

 where a man is compelled to peddle his fruit from house to 

 house, consuming or wasting more time in petty traffic than was 



