14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



prejudices, to break up some of our unthrifty habits, or more 

 firmly to ground ourselves in established truths, to thus make 

 our efforts in fruit-culture more agreeable and more success- 

 ful. Excuse personalities, for I come as an enthusiastic lover 

 of fruit, and somewhat successful cultivator, to talk of my 

 experience, but without any pet theories which alone must 

 be followed to insure success. 



Fruit is too much considered as a luxury, and not enough 

 placed on the list of necessary and economical articles of diet. 

 It is not difficult to provide a supply of fresh fruit in succes- 

 sion and variety during the whole year. The strawberry comes 

 first, followed, without intermission, by the raspberry, cur- 

 rant, blackberry and whortleberry. Cherries, peaches, plums 

 and grapes cover the five months from July to November, 

 while the pear, beginning in July, is in season for six months ; 

 the apple, the most democratic of all, rounds out the year 

 with varieties, some of which are in perfection for the whole 

 twelve months, and we only tire of old apples because the 

 new are better. In most localities in New England, all these 

 fruits can be raised, and, in many cases, in a degree of per- 

 fection unsurpassed by many sections devoted especially to 

 fruit-growing, and which enjoy a great reputation for their 

 fruits. 



Fruits are, to most persons, not only agreeable, but they 

 form an economical and healthful article of diet. They should 

 be used freely, raw or cooked, in a simple form, two or three 

 times a day. The substitution of choice fresh fruit for dessert 

 instead of the everlasting pastry that has done so much to 

 undermine the health of New England, not only gives us that 

 which is more economical, but more healthful. Baked apples, 

 of choice varieties, simple, or eaten with sugar and cream, 

 according to fancy, are within the means of every one, yet 

 they cannot be surpassed by any table luxury, the product of 

 any clime. 



I have spoken of the healthfulness of fruit. Children who 

 have free access to, and indulge their appetites without reserve 

 in fresh fruit, enjoy the fullest measure of health. When the 

 supply is irregular, or the quality injured by keeping or 

 neglect, or it is imperfectly ripened, as is often seen in our 

 markets, and sickness follows its use, we are too apt to offer 



