THE APPLE. 



Bead before the Society, February Sth, A. B. 1877. 



BY O. B. HADWEN, 



If briefly considering the Apple in a ^few of its phases, will thereby 

 afford material for discussion, tending to create an interest and forward 

 the purposes for which these meetings are called, we most cheerfully 

 comply with the wishes of the Society. 



Considering the subject by aggregates we are assured by the last cen- 

 sus of Massachusetts' agricultural products that the apple takes the lead 

 of the fruit-growing interests of the State. The soil and climate are 

 found congenial to the growth of the apple; the product of the State in 

 the year 1874 amounts to the very respectable number of 3,252,957 bush- 

 els, valued at the sum of $1,450,252. We are also safe in assuming that 

 the people of Massachusetts consume as much, if not more, fruit than 

 the people of any other State in proportion to their number: in fact the 

 home supply does not often equal the demand. Worcester County takes 

 the front rank among the counties of the State in the apple product. In 

 the year 1874 the product of the county was 933,013 bushels, valued at 

 $380,594. The importance of the apple crop both in bushels and dollars 

 is very apparent, but there are other phases of the subject, which are 

 especially important to those who grow fruit as incidental or special pro- 

 ducts. 



Worcester County occupying a central portion of the State, and lying 

 within the great fruit-growing belt, is, both in soil and climate, especially 

 adapted to the growth of the apple, which has received care and cultiva- 

 tion from the earliest settlement of the county. Here many varieties of 

 apples have had their origin that are proving highly satisfactory, not only 

 here, but wherever they have been disseminated. Among these are the 

 Hubbardston Nonesuch, first found growing in the town of Hubbardston, 

 and the original tree is still in existence; few apples rank higher in its 

 season^ or are more universally esteemed wherever cultivated. The Holden 

 Pippin originated on the farm of Captain Samuel Hubbard, of Holden. 

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