Old and New Homes. 6y 



agent's profits are thus large, it is plain that the proprietor of the orchaid 

 makes money in corresponding proportion. 



As I have said, our blackberry-field yielded a very respectable product ; 

 but our peaches, for various reasons, were not so promising. The ra\-ages 

 of the borer had made a serious impression upon the trees, which told 

 upon this season's harvest. By another year, we trusted that the effect of 

 our precautions in eradicating these enemies would become apparent in an 

 increased quantity of. fruit. Cut, if our peaches were of inferior quality, 

 the price obtained was quite large ; for, owing to one or two late frosts, many 

 larger orchards around us had produced only half-crops. This, of course, 

 had a tendency to enhance the value of that which remained ; and so ours 

 brought us as much, perhaps, as if the yield had been above the average. 

 Everj'^ thing rises in value in proportion to its scarcity, as every merchant 

 and farmer can tell. 



It was now the first of September, and our watermelons and citrons 

 were doing finely. They ripened splendidly in the hot sun ; and we shipped 

 many a wagon-load to market, besides indulging freely ourselves. Then this 

 was the season for canning and pickling. There were several large estab- 

 lishments in Burlington and in the neighborhood which absorbed all the 

 tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that we could produce. It was really 

 wonderful to look at our tomato-vines, and see the abundance of gorgeous- 

 looking fruit which ripened so rapidly. On these things we were saved 

 all expense of commission for selling, since our own wagon could deliver 

 them directly at the consumers' doors. So it was with our peaches ; for 

 these huge canning-houses were ready to take all that we offered, at fair 

 market-prices. They had wisely located themselves in the very heart of the 

 fruit-growing region, where supplies were easily obtainable. The great 

 cities would be the ultimate market for distribution, and these canned fruits 

 were as salable as the fresh ones. My mother made sure of a good sup- 

 ply both of peaches and tomatoes for our own use in winter ; putting them 

 up in ordinary glass-jars, and covering the tops with pieces of strong mus- 

 lin, on which had been spread a thick coat of cement, made by melting 

 together one ounce of mutton-tallow and one pound of rosin. We prepared 

 this in an old iron pot ; and, when once made, it lasted the whole season : 

 we had only to set the pot on the fire until it was melted, and then it was 



