342 ANNUAL KEPORT. 



"As in other pursuits, persons have, not unfrequently, 

 embarked in fruit growing, here, with too little knowledge, 

 means or capacity for the business, and have, for such rea- 

 sons, failed to make it profitable; while others, under more 

 favorable circumstances, find it j)leasant and in many cases, 

 highly profitable. Lands in good condition, in bearing orchards, 

 with the needful buildings and other fixtures, and convenient to 

 the points of shipment are considered worth as much as two hun- 

 dred to three hundred dollars per acre; while good but unim- 

 proved fruit and farm lands not very remote from market may 

 be obtained for twenty-five dollars per acre — possibly even less. 

 Good improved land, suitable for fruit or truck growing, maybe 

 had at one hundred dollars per acre in the immediate vicinity of 

 the town. 



"As an instance of profitable horticulture, one of our oldest 

 and largest peach growers realized $13,000 a« the net proceeds of 

 the sales of the year 1873. From which sum he deducts !?3,000 

 for cost of production, leaving the clear proceeds of the year 

 $10,000. In 1874-'6-'7-'8 and '9 his net sales ranged between 

 10,000 and 20,000 baskets each year, the clear proceeds, after de- 

 ducting the expense of production, averaging $2,000 to $3,000. 

 These are the proceeds of about eighty acres of bearing peach 

 orchard. 



"Eed Astrachan, Oldenburgh, Maiden's Blush, Lowell, St. Law- 

 rence, Hubbardston, Westfield, Ehode Island Greening, Baldwin, 

 Eed Canada, Golden Eusset, and Eoxbury Eusset are the leading 

 market apples; while nearly all northern varieties, whether 

 eastern or western, are found to succeed perfectly here. The net 

 incomes of a well managed orchard for a single year, when in its 

 prime, may well be so large that even a correct statement might 

 endanger a reputation as to credibility. Such net income should 

 be arrived at by taking the average of incomes for a series of years, 

 reckoning from the date of planting, and continuing during the 

 life of the plantation. Nothing short of this will afford a proper 

 comparison as between orcharding and ordinary farming. A 

 critical knowledge of varieties and modes of management is of 

 the highest importance, since mistakes at the outset aye very 

 difficult to remedy. 



"The borer in the tree and the codling moth in the fruit have, 

 so far, been the most troublesome insects. There is apparently 

 little danger that apple culture will be overdone." The demand 

 for apples is apparently increasing more rapidly than the supply; 



