TREATMENT OT FRUIT TREES. 313 



In the Southern markets — to which vast quantities of 

 the products of our "Western orchards are shipped by 

 river — all red apples are preferred to those of lighter 

 color. The warmth of the climate also requires that the 

 fruit should be of the firmest and best-keeping varieties ; 

 hence we find that the Pryor's Eed, the Eaule's Janet, 

 and even the Gilpin, are favorites among the shippers and 

 purchasers, who will almost at once reject all of the light- 

 colored fruits. 



^Near our large towns and cities, particularly in the 

 vicinity of railway stations, a very large supply of choice 

 fruit is wanted for the retail trade throughout the season, 

 and the retailers desire fruit that shall be attractive, and 

 pay much less regard to real excellence than to external 

 beauty — so that it may be profitable to produce a supply 

 for this demand, that may not rank as first-rate, but real- 

 ize to the producer the highest prices. Thus, for this pur- 

 pose, the beautiful Maiden's Blush, which can scarcely be 

 ranked aa good, will be purchased readily, while other and 

 better sorts remain unsold. The Waxen will follow after 

 this fruit, and be eagerly sought on account of its appear- 

 ance ; the Yellow Bellflower always commands a high 

 price, though not admired universally as a dessert fruit. 



The hotel keeper, in purchasing, has two objects in 

 view; the decoration, as well as the supply, of his table; 

 and he cares less about the quality than the appearance 

 of the fruit he purchases. For a dinner of one hundred 

 plates, it is cheaper to pay one dollar for a bushel of neat, 

 medium-sized, or small apples, containing one hundred 

 specimens, than to give one dollar and a half for two 

 bushels of the finest and largest fruit of the season, that 

 shall count but one apiece for the party. This matter 

 of calculation is beginning to be well understood, and 

 even private families find it to their account to select me- 

 dium-sized fruit, independent of the fact, that most of the 

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