HOW TO GROW GOOD ORCHARDS. 311 



A propagator of apple and pear trees from seeds may be supposed 

 to possess not only patience, but a desire to benefit posterity. Twelve 

 or fourteen years cast a long shadow before them ; and when, after 

 waiting this length of time, the uncertain value of the substance is 

 considered, it must be confessed that men deserve more than praise, 

 who originate new fruits. Apple trees rarely show the real quality 

 of their fruit in less than fourteen years. All, however, who have 

 the convenience of doing so, should l-aise seedling trees ; for it is to 

 these only that we can look with any degree of confidence for 

 permanently furnishing our orchards, and not to old or cankering 

 varieties. 



It is true that it is not within the province of all, 

 even of the permanent owners of the soil, thus to 

 add to the numher of Pomona's gifts, but all can 

 inquire for and purchase esteemed sorts; and no 

 tenant that is worth having will grudge them care 

 and attention, be his tenure ever so precarious. 



We would assign to the lords of the soil the duty 

 of improving fruit-trees, while the gentleman who 

 resides in the country, it may be for only a short 

 season, should make the best use of it to encourage 

 a love for the garden, and to increase its various 

 attractions to charm the eye, and to increase and 

 vary the vegetable food of the people. 



3. Emit for cider-making will consist of "wind- 

 falls," that is, such as has fallen prematurely ripe, 

 or been shaken off by the wind ; and gathered fruit. 

 As regards wind-falls, it is only necessary to state 

 that, although these can only be employed for an 

 inferior kind of drink, yet even this may be improved 

 by care, as thus : — Instead of picking up the apples 

 while they are still wet with dew, they should be 

 gathered in as dry a state as possible, and then not, 

 as is too often the case, huddled together in a heap 



