38 STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



for $5.00 per barrel and the latter for $4.00. This was at a time 

 when ordinary fruit was selling from $1.50 to $2.50 per barrel. The 

 fruit sold on its merits. 



This may not be in exact accord with the commercial idea of 

 orcharding now prevailing, but at the same time we are quite sure 

 that the demands of the future will be for the best, and not always 

 for what our orchards may produce the most of. Remember, if you 

 please, that we are competing not with different varieties of apples, 

 but with the oranges, bananas and other fruits grown in warmer 

 climates. When I can get a Russell or a Gravenstien I would not 

 exchange for any fruit grown. They are good enough for me, and 

 when their superior qualities are known, the sight of them will tickle 

 the palate of the daintiest epicure. 



In our cities and many of our larger villages all festive occasions 

 are made redolent with the sweet odors of flowers. By some it is 

 feared the people are becoming extravagant in the profusion of floral 

 displays. It might be better if more flowers were used in our homes 

 day by day and less on public occasions. But along with the flowers 

 wherever good taste would admit, I would make use of fruits. 

 Especially would we use them about our dining-rooms, and so far 

 as flowers or ferns would add to their beauty we would combine 

 them. Adorn the table and sideboards with the choicest fruits ; and 

 for one I like their presence before me at every meal. Fruit-pieces are 

 ornamental sometimes in other rooms, and frequently add a charm 

 to the guest little dreamed of by the housekeeper. For one I should 

 be in favor of offering premiums for fruit pieces, though it might be 

 well to limit the fruit to that grown in the State. So far as I have 

 attended exhibitions of the society there has been an effort to make 

 the displays of fruit and flowers attractive, but I fear we may not 

 be doing quite enough, for the influence of our society in this direc- 

 tion is important, as illustrative of what may be done to make fruits 

 beautiful to the eye. 



Too often the fruits on exhibition are jumbled together in a con- 

 fused mass, and in consequence are likely to be passed by unob- 

 served. Let us remember that few people care to partake of fruit 

 that is unattractive. It is usually safe to follow Nature in matters 

 of art, and she adorns our trees with the fruits which never fail to 

 win the admiration of the beholder ; and never a man or woman can 

 go among our fruit trees in harvest but an irresistible desire arises 



