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longer season. (2) This means that the selection of varieties for 

 the home garden should be so arranged as to produce this required 

 succession. (3) In the home garden quality will be considered 

 chiefly, whereas in the commercial orchard prolificacy in bearing 

 and high color of the fruit are primarily sought for. (4) Old 

 favorites will be especially considered in the home garden. Every 

 man has some particular apple which he fancies especially, per- 

 haps on account of some old association or for some less obvious 

 reason. All such varieties should be cherished in the home gar- 

 den, although it would be a fatal mistalve to plant them for profit. 

 (5) As regards apples particularly, one more observation may be 

 made, i.e., that a much larger percentage of summer and autumn 

 varieties may be planted in the home garden than could be justi- 

 fied in the market orchard. 



With these principles in view, I will now name those fruits 

 amongst which the grower would most naturally choose in making 

 up a list for a small home garden in Massachusetts. It should be 

 understood, of course, that I do not recommend the planting of 

 this entire number, nor, indeed, do I insist upon any particular 

 variety. I have already said that every man must follow his own 

 preference and judgment very largely. When one is planting for 

 commercial purposes, he has to meet the requirements of the mar- 

 ket ; when he plants for himself, he" suits his own taste. 



Apples. 



Red Astrachan is perhaps one of the first apples to be ready for 

 eating in this latitude. It is of very brisk and tart flavor, and 

 answers the purpose for producing the yearly cases of apple colic 

 so much required in a thriving family of farm boys. For this 

 good work it should not be overlooked. It makes good apple- 

 sauce, and is attractive for some other reasons, but its chief merit 

 is its earliness. 



Early Harvest is usually held to be an apple of much better 

 quality than the last, although there is a difference of opinion on 

 this point. It is a good eating apple, however, and fairly good 

 for cooking, so that it falls into the succession very nicely. 



Williams (Early Williams or Williams Favorite) : This is one 

 of the best apples of the season. Personally, I would almost as 

 soon save my appetite until Williams is ready, as to spoil it with 

 Red Astrachan and Early Harvest. Williams forms a good hardy 

 tree, which bears well. The fruit is medium size, of good form 

 and highl}^ colored. This variety ought never to be overlooked in 

 making up a family orchard. 



Grimes (Grimes Golden) is highly regarded in the west, and, 



