APPLES. 67 



APPLES. 



Unquestionably the Apple is the most important, 

 because the most substantial and serviceable, fruit 

 of temperate climes, and it is very apparent that 

 the increase of home-grown fruit of the best quality 

 has not been commensurate with the demands of 

 an ever increasing population. How is a change 

 to be effected ? One thing is clear, if we stand 

 still, American growers will not, and the worse our 

 samples become by neglect, the better will theirs 

 become by cultivation; and the best samples, no 

 matter whence they come, nor what they are called, 

 will find the readiest sale. Let it be said emphati- 

 cally that the ONLY WAY TO COMMAND A SALE FOR 



HOME GROWN APPLES IS TO IMPROVE THE SAMPLES, 



and this can be done. It is pitiable to see the 

 generally low grade of the produce of gardens and 

 orchards attached to British homesteads ; and it is 

 because of this inferiority, more than anything else, 

 that imported fruit finds its way, not to populous 

 cities only, but to small country towns, and even rural 

 villages. For improving the market supply of 

 British Apples, there must be an enormous limitation 

 of varieties, as then, and then only, can the best, 

 most reliable, and most uniform supplies be insured. 

 That is the American plan; and by carrying it out 



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