82 PROFITABLE FRUIT-GROWING. 



the crop of fruit would not have approached half 

 of what the tree now produces, namely, one-and-a- 

 half hundredweight, worth, at the least, 2d. a pound 

 when ripe, or 285. The tree is twelve years old 

 from the graft, or nine years from planting, is 12 

 feet high, and the same in diameter. If an acre 

 of such trees were grown at 24 feet apart, the 

 crop would be worth just 100. This uniformity, 

 however, cannot be relied on, and it will be fair to 

 take off half for contingencies, and the profit on 

 culture, placing the cost at 12, will be highly 

 satisfactory. It is to be remembered, however, 

 the tree is only half grown, and in five years' time 

 will be capable of bearing thrice the above weight 

 of fruit. A tree of the same character, of a variety 

 of the Nonpareil, in Mr. Jacob's garden, has this 

 year afforded eight bushels, sold at 85. a bushel, 

 It is twenty years old, and improving every season. 

 But it must be clearly understood that the best of 

 trees, in the care of the best of cultivators, cannot 

 be relied on to bear full crops every year. 



Prunicg The yearly pruning of trees grown 

 on the common-sense principle represented, is of 

 the simplest. All that is needed is to examine 

 them about midsummer, also in August or 

 September, and cut back any young shoots 

 then which threaten to crowd the tree, leaving 



