98 EDUCATE THE TASTE. 
are greater inducements offered to the producer now 
than ten years ago. The average prices are higher 
and the demand still exceeds the supply. Once or 
twice within a period of twelve years, pears have 
been sold very low, and although, at the time, quite 
discouraging to the producer, still such incidents, to 
use a common phrase, pay weld in the long run. 
When choice fruit is plenty and cheap enough to be 
bought freely by all, the taste is educated, and in 
after years, this aquired taste has to be satisfied, 
even at higher prices. Fine fruit, especially pears, 
when sold from $16 to $80 per barrel are a luxury 
that can only be indulged in by the wealthier classes. 
But, like the small fruits, pears will eventually find 
their way to the homes of the working classes. If 
the time should ever come that one-half of the 
amount now spent for alcoholic decoctions, should 
go for choice fruit, what a difference there would be 
in the homes of many of our poorer classes, now 
rendered almost desolate by the use of intoxicating 
drinks. 
As a nation we should use more fruit and Jess 
animal food. Judging from the rapid increase in 
the consumption of small fruits within a compara- 
tively short time, there is no doubt but the demand 
for pears will steadily keep pace with the supply, 
and no reason to fear that the markets will be over- 
