36 THE HOME ACRE. 



can imagine that the luscious fruits of the year 

 might have been produced in a much more prosaic 

 way. Indeed, we are at a loss to decide which we 

 value the more, the apple-blossoms or the apples 

 which follow. Nature is not content with bulk, 

 flavor, and nutriment, but in the fruit itself so 

 deftly pleases the eye with every trick of color 

 and form that the hues and beauty of the flower 

 are often surpassed. We look at a red-cheeked 

 apple or purple cluster of grapes hesitatingly, and 

 are loth to mar the exquisite shadings and perfect 

 outlines of the vessel in which the rich juices are 

 served. Therefore, in stocking the acre with fruit, 

 the proprietor has not ceased to embellish it; and 

 should he decide that fruit-trees must predominate 

 over those grown for shade and ornament only, he 

 can combine almost as much beauty as utility with 

 his plan. 



All the fruits may be set out both in the spring 

 and the fall seasons ; but in our latitude and north- 

 ward, I should prefer early spring for strawberries 

 and peaches. 



By this time we may suppose that the owner of 

 the acre has matured his plans, and marked out 

 the spaces designed for the lawn, garden, fruit- 

 trees, vines, etc. Fruit-trees, like shade-trees, are 

 not the growth of a summer. Therefore there is 

 natural eagerness to have them in the ground as 



