1895.] TRANSACTIONS. 23 



we get the subjoined quotations, in the most thrifty boroughs of 

 Scotland, for the following varieties of Apples : 



King 18 « 21 Shillings. 



Baldwin 16 " 18 " 



Greenino- 11 " 13 " 



Northern Spy 13 " 16 " 



From London comes the report that " by the end of October 

 the market will be sufficiently cleared of Native Apples to make 

 a demand for good American Apples." But, at that date, the 

 exports this season had been about 37,000 barrels against 134,- 

 000 barrels to the same time A. D. 1894. Note that the prices 

 given above were shillings sterling ; in excess of Three or Five 

 Dollars per barrel according to the variety. Now presumably, 

 your Secretary^ like a true Yankee, values the Apple for its 

 own sake ; — not at all because of its greater or less parity in 

 silver. He is unfashionable enough to believe in Pie ! and suffi- 

 ciently a philosopher to shield himself behind the example of 

 Emerson in owning up to a craving for that common, popular 

 relish. It is therefore that he welcomes the even-numbered 

 year with its felicitous accord of fecundity and quality ; and 

 hearkens during the digestion of each appetizing morsel to the 

 melodious chink of the white metal as it weighs down your pock- 

 ets in exchange for your superfluity of our noblest, if most unre- 

 liable, fruit. 



"The English market," continues the report, " would take 

 our Apples, if sound ;" but we have them not, even of inferior 

 quality. Why not ! let me again ask ; the question that will not 

 down until the puzzle finds its solution. Think of the area of 

 land in this county that is so well fit for no other harvest ! More 

 than a half-century ago Sampson V. S. Wilder planted the fer- 

 tile acclivities of Bolton and Sterling with those vigorous 

 Orchards wherefrom Jonathan Forbush was wont to load our 

 tables and enrich our early exhibitions. Now, we are privi- 

 leged to see no specimens from a wider radius than will com- 

 prise our immediately co-terminous towns ! Is the same land 

 put to better or more profitable use, — or merely surrendered to 

 Birch and Solidago? The thrifty Town, — our goodly neighbor, 



