442 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



known facts. I would therefore have you understand at the out- 

 set that it is not my purpose to exalt the fruit industry above all 

 others, for to do so would be to set forth an untruth. We must 

 appreciate the fact that one industry cannot for any long period 

 be permanently more profitable than others. The very fact that 

 for a time it is more profitable will cause more people to engage 

 in it, and thus an even balance be maintained. 



THE PLACE OF HORTICULTURE IN NEW YORK STATE 



Many have the idea that horticultural products are chief among 

 the output of ]^ew York farms. This is not true, for the horti- 

 cultural production is exceeded by vegetables and potatoes, the 

 annual value of which for the last census was $36,302,150; by 

 cereals, with a value of $43,099,988 ; by dairy products, value 

 over $77,000,000 ; and by hay and forage, value also over $77,- 

 000,000. ISTevei-thcless, fruit growing in the state of New York 

 has assumed large proportions and has been pursued so long that 

 it is far beyond the experimental stage. There is no state where 

 conditions are more favorable or where the industry is so firmly 

 established. Soil, climate, and proximity to the best markets of 

 the world are most important factors. 



The value of all fruit produced in the state of ISTew York, ac- 

 cording to the last census, is $24,826,06(3. To this may properly be 

 added $2,750,957 for nursery products. In the latter, I^ew York 

 ranks first. The value of the various fruits are as follows : 



Apples $13, 343. 028 00 



Peaches and nectarines 2, 01-4, 088 00 



Pears 1, 418, 218 00 



Plums 519, 192 00 



Cherries 544, 508 00 



Quinces 135. 345 00 



Apricots 14, 490 00 



Total value of orchard fruits $17, 988, 894 00 



Value of small fruits 2, 875, 495 00 



Value of grapes 3, 961, 677 00 



t I 



The value of all fruits produced in New York State exceeds 

 the value of the tropical and sub-tropical fruits produced in the 

 United States by $119,313. JSTew York ranks second in bushels 

 of orchard fruits produced, exceeded by California by 645,216 

 bushels because of her immense prune industry. New York ranks 

 first in the value of apples, first in bushels produced, and second 



