The Profitableness of Fruit -Culture. 35 



and best condition, and at reasonable prices. There are thousands of 

 acres of land that can be bought for mere nominal prices, that are well 

 suited to peach-culture, waiting for the enterprising young man to enter in 

 and plant trees, and accumulate a competency. There is, perhaps, a larger 

 margin for profit in raising this fruit than in any other, except grapes, and 

 possibly strawberries. The raising of pears is a profitable branch of fruit- 

 culture in those parts of the country adapted to it. There are places, where, 

 strange as it may seem, the pear proves a failure : the fire-blight and other 

 diseases of the tree, or the failure to get good fruit, render it undesirable 

 to attempt to raise pears for sale. If the tree flourishes, and produces good 

 fruit, it finds a ready sale at remunerative prices. There seems to be but 

 few pears raised in the country, except in the vicinity of cities and large 

 towns. It has proved, in some locations, a surer and better crop than 

 apples, and is generally quite profitable. If one would select varieties 

 that make the best returns, he should avoid the early summer and the 

 winter sorts, and grow largely of such varieties as mature during Septem- 

 ber, October, and the early part of November. 



The grape-crop next claims our attention ; and for this we must speak 

 a good word on the score of profit, whether considered for wine-purposes 

 or the market. Much will depend upon the location and section of coun- 

 try ; for the effect on the grape of difference of soils and location is more 

 apparent than on any other fruit. Presuming that the vinist has made a 

 wise selection as to soil, location, and nearness to market, he may plant 

 grape-vines of the best varieties for market-purposes with the fullest confi- 

 dence that his returns will be satisfacton,-, and probably greater than he 

 could realize from any other crop. An intelligent grower told us a few 

 days since that he could raise Isabella grapes in New York, and deliver 

 them in Boston, for three cents a pound, and make money at the business ; 

 and at six cents he could make a fortune in a short time. We think he 

 was too sanguine in regard to the profits of the business ; though, at the 

 last-named price, it might do. The fact is, at the present time, Catawbas 

 and other good grapes are selling for twenty and twenty-five cents a pound; 

 which price, after deducting all possible expenses, will show a balance on 

 the right side. Some have expressed the belief, that, as so many were 



