APPLES A^D APPLE-TREES. 255 



I say, don't plant your trees on land in Boston or in the immediate 

 vicinity of Boston ; you can't afford to do it ; but all the way 

 back on the hill sides you can buy splendid land for apple-trees, 

 for twenty-five or fifty dollars an acre — and not a great many 

 miles from the cities either. You have got a great advantage 

 over the West, if you send all your fruit to Boston, because, 

 instead of sending it four, five or six hundred miles, you have 

 only to send it fifty or a hundred miles, or a hundred and fifty, 

 if you send it the whole length of the State. Even if you o'o 

 back fifteen or twenty miles from a railroad to-day, before your 

 trees bear this whole State is to be cut up with railroads, and the 

 cars will be running right by your orchard. Perhaps you will 

 say then your land will be too valuable to keep your orchard. 

 That may or may not be, but I say plant your trees there. This 

 year has satisfied you, as it has me, that you can raise apples in 

 abundance. They are not sure — what crop is absolutely sure ? 

 But, taking the seasons through, you may be reasonably sure of 

 getting your crop. This year, it is said (I hardly believe it), 

 that owing to the shortness of water down-east, they have run 

 their mills with cider ! 



Colonel Wilder. Did you ever know a season when apples 

 were not produced in gardens ? 



Mr. Hyde. No, sir. I can remember forty years, and I have 

 never know a year when we have not had apples on our place. 

 I say, with locations well selected, and ordinary culture, you 

 will not fail once in ten years. On the average, right through, 

 it is as sure as almost any crop you can plant. 



Then, judiciously select your varieties, put in your trees and 

 take care of them. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well. 

 There is no crop that will pay you better for your trouble. The 

 raising of apples is one of tlie most profitable branches of 

 farming to-day. Witli the exception of market gardening, and 

 the raising of small fruits about the cities, I believe it is as 

 profitable a branch of farming as any one can engage in. 



I say this much in favor of apples, because I feel a deep 

 interest in this subject. I have visited almost every town in 

 this State and in New Hampshire, and know, I tiiink, what I 

 am talking about. I have made trees my study all my life ; I 

 know something of fruit culture, and I do not hesitate to say 

 what I do say. 



