38 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



and were in demand at those prices far in excess of the supply. 

 By engaging in crab-apple culture, astonishingly profitable 

 results were predicted and anticipated. It was urged that 

 the demand would be almost unlimited ; that those not used 

 for cooking purposes could be converted into cider, which 

 would sell at fifty cents per gallon — crab-apple cider being a 

 very superior article. 



The agents who had crab-apple trees to sell, seemed to 

 believe that they had a good thing, and tried to impress the 

 minds of farmers with some adequate conception of the great 

 importance of crab-apple culture. Their success was quite 

 encouraging — to themselves, at least — and large numbers of 

 the trees were sold. Not a few purchased crab-apple trees 

 sufficient to set a small orchard, imagining that at last they 

 were on the high road to success in fruit culture. They did 

 succeed in growing the trees very well. There were quite as 

 many that lived and grew as it was for the interest of the 

 owners to have. 



There is no doubt the crab apple trees are hardy and 

 adapted to endure our climate. This point has been satisfac- 

 torily established. The trees are thrifty and productive, and 

 come into bearing very early. So far as all these points are 

 concerned, the crab-apple tree culture in Maine has proved 

 a complete success. There seems to be no doubt that we 

 can raise any number of large, thrifty, and productive crab 

 apple trees. There can be no foult found with the represen- 

 tations of the tree agents regarding these qualities. 



There is, however, a serious drawback attending even the 

 crab-apple business ; and that is, the apples do not sell well. 

 This seems to be a great pity, when it is so easy to raise them 

 and the trees are so thrifty and endure our winters so well ! 

 Instead of being in demand at $6 to $7 j^cr barrel when other 

 apples are worth only $3, the demand last autumn Avas not 

 brisk for them at |2 to $3 per barrel while other apples sold 

 at $3 to $4. In fact, there is a very limited demand for crab 

 apples at any price. They are used mostly for preserving, 

 and seldom used for other cooking purposes. . It is easy for 



