65 



the samples being of smaller size than usual, while the 

 individual specimens were more often wormy, or not as- 

 fair. Without doubt, the exceptional coldness of the 

 past season, and, possibly in some localities, the effect of 

 hail storms on the fruit, were the agencies which contrib- 

 uted largely to produce its inferior size and poor con- 

 dition. 



Without doubt, the apple is, and is to be, the King fruit 

 of New England. We dwell within that fortunate zone 

 where it reaches perfection, for, within the area of New 

 England nearly every known variety attains its highest 

 quality. The Cherry, the Peach, and the Plum grace our 

 tables for a short season ; the Pear is with us a little lon- 

 ger, and a few varieties, b} r tender care, accompany us 

 into the winter months, luxuries on the table of those 

 who can afford to indulge in them, — but the democratic 

 Apple, in its hundreds of varieties, enters every household 

 in plenteous abundance, too common to be called a lux- 

 ury, and just above being a necessity. 



The good province of the apple tree is, by no means 

 exhausted, when we say it bears sweet fruit or sour fruit ; 

 erisp fruit or spicy fruit ; early or late fruit ; or that the 

 tree is a good cropper or a good grower. It would be a 

 sorry time for the race were the mouth and the pocket to 

 be the sole measures of value. There' are utilities in 

 things which are essential to our higher happiness that 

 the mouth and the pocket know not of. Do we appre- 

 ciate our apples at their full desert, for the pleasure they 

 afford our other senses besides that of taste? Certainly 

 the rich red of the William's Favorite, the delicate bloom 

 on the Astracan, the clear, transparent straw color of the 

 Porter, the brilliant gold and carmine of the Gravenstein, 

 and the delicate beauty of the Maiden's Blush are a feast 

 to the eye, and make these of more value to us than 

 though they had just us good eating qualities as now, but 

 were each contained within a green or drab skin. No 

 class of fruits can compare with the apple in richness and 

 variety of color. The peach, the pear, and the plum, 



