288 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of tins wheel, which farmers have fallen into, or felt constrained 

 to adopt in practice, and for which there may not be a demand 

 in other localities, which are not familiar to outsiders. Perse- 

 verance being a virtue when given to a good cause, we resolved 

 to make an effort ; and if we shall be obliged to recognize the 

 y^ord fail, it won't be the first time we have been thus caught. 



Let it be remembered that eleven towns and one city only are 

 embraced within the limits of Middlesex North ; that nine of 

 those towns are within ten miles of our local market ; that 

 there is a large and increasing demand in that market for fire- 

 wood, lumber, hay, straw, fruit and vegetables of all kinds ; and 

 so great is the demand for milk that almost numberless farmers 

 sell all the product from their cows and depend, like most citi- 

 zens, upon Vermont and New Hampshire for a supply of butter 

 and cheese. So great has been the rush in the business of 

 market-gardening that cabbages, tomatoes, green corn, melons, 

 squashes, and even potatoes, last harvest-season, settled down 

 almost to old-fashioned specie currency prices. Supply and 

 demand must regulate the price of those as well as other 

 articles, and like other things they will find their level. 



Fruit, in our district, has not been abundant or cheap since 

 1862. Pears and grapes are grown to considerable extent in 

 city gardens, and neither, in large quantities outside the city 

 limits. Within the last year a few thousands of grape-vines 

 have been planted, and more will continue to be from time to 

 time. Peaches have played out, apparently, though many are 

 determined not to be discouraged in relation to them, — we 

 admire their pluck. Plums are as uncertain as peaches, or 

 more so. 



Apples have been scarce and high in price, the last three 

 years. Instances may be cited, however, in our district, where 

 the apple crop has not in long years been so profitable to the 

 owners as during the last three. In no case is that true where 

 the proprietors permitted the tent caterpillars to overrun their 

 orchards. Some there are who have learned that care and 

 attention bestowed upon fruit trees is absolutely necessary in 

 order to secure returns, and that with this bestowal, remuner- 

 ative returns arc almost sure to accrue. It is a source of grati- 

 fication to us that so few have lost faith in the apple. The next 

 good and general crop will set the few doubting ones on tiptoe, 



