254 M. P. WILDER'S REMARKS. 



Remarks by M. P. Wilder. 



[At the ninth meeting of the Legislative Society, Mr. Wilder, the Presi- 

 dent, made the remarks which follow, on the subject oi fruit and fruit trees : — ] 



Formerly, the cultivation of the finer fruits was limited to 

 the gardens of the opulent, or to the immediate proximity of a 

 market, but the multiplied facilities of intercourse and trans- 

 portation, the emulation excited by horticultural exhibitions 

 and conventions, and the increasing importance of this product, 

 in a commercial point of view, have awakened an interest which 

 has spread as with magnetic speed, throughout our land. Thou- 

 sands of trees are planted, instead of dozens : orchards and 

 gardens, on the most extensive scale, have been commenced, 

 and so generally has this taste been diffused in our vicinity, 

 that the cottage, even of the most humble laborer, without its 

 fruit tree or grape vine, would almost be considered an anomaly. 

 Amateurs and nursery-men have congregated into their collec- 

 tions hundreds of varieties for trial; and, so great is this enthu- 

 siasm, or mania, that the cry is not simply, " who will show us 

 any good," but who will show us any thing new ? Fears have 

 been expressed, that \h\s fruit-growing mania would overstock 

 the market, but thus far it has tended to foster a taste for better 

 quality, better specimens, and to augment rather than to dimin- 

 ish the price. 



In no part of the world is this enterprise crowned with better 

 success than in our own. The fame of American fruit is already 

 proverbial in foreign markets, and the day is not distant, when, 

 in addition to the enormous consumption at home, we shall sup- 

 ply England, not only with the finest apples, but also, with the 

 finest pears. 



A gentleman, (P. Barry, Esq., of Rochester, N. Y.,) who has 

 just returned from Europe, remarks, that, in the English market, 

 there will be an " unfailing demand for the products of our or- 

 chards," that apples, such as would scarcely sell at home, were 

 there cried up, as " nice American apples," "beautiful American 

 apples," and brought from three to six cents each. Mr. B. says 



