224 OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES. 



if we might be sure of the intelligent and faithful 

 direction of superiors. In fault of this from outside 

 sources, Mr. Urban, if he insists upon his fifty-acre 

 experiment, must undertake it himself. And, in that 

 event as I hinted at the beginning I expect to see 

 him grow fearfully red in the face, and struggle 

 against his wife's repinings, and yet, through all if 

 the rural love be strong in him work out results 

 that will be charming in spite of their toils. 



As for the pears and the Chittagongs, about 

 which, if I remember rightly, my friend Urban insti- 

 tuted some inquiries, I have nothing in particular to 

 say. Bad fruit is due more to lack of good culture, 

 than to choice of bad varieties ; let a man select the 

 best specimens he can find in the city-markets test- 

 ing them by taste secure the trees from a nursery- 

 man who has a reputation to lose, then cultivate with 

 care, and he will never lack good fruit. 



There is as much dilettanteism in pomology as in 

 old pottery, or in poetry ; a sound man who wearies 

 of the dilettanti chooses what he likes, and gives it 

 protection and reaps his reward. I would as soon 

 think of choosing my fruits by the advices of the 

 horticultural disputants, as of choosing my pictures 

 (if I ever bought them) by the advices of the news- 

 paper critics. The pomologists stand related to those 

 who raise fruit for home enjoyment, and under fair 



