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MASSACHUSETTS FRUIT TREES AND THEIR INSECT 



FOES.' 



H. T. FERNALD, PH.D., AJIHERST, MASS., STATE NURSERY INSPECTOR. 



Massachusetts is a natural fruit-raising State. On her 

 rugged hillsides flourish magnificent trees never set by man^ 

 while thrifty pear and plum orchards here and there attest 

 the value of her climate and soil for fruit growing. The 

 qualities of the Baldwin, Hubbardston, Sutton Beauty and 

 Koxbury Russet apples, of the Clapp's Favorite pear, of the 

 Crosby peach and of the Concord and Rogers' Hybrids 

 among grapes, ^re known the world over, and all of these 

 and many others originated in Massachusetts. 



Civilization and fruit raising at first went almost hand in 

 hand in this country. After making a clearing in the forest, 

 building his log cabin and breaking ground for his crops, the 

 settler rarely neglected to plant a few fruit trees near his 

 home ; and in time the better fruits occasionally appeared on 

 his table, while the poorer sorts supplied cider and vinegar 

 for his use. 



But fruit raising was always a side issue. His markets 

 were always for his hay, corn, potatoes and the products of 

 his cattle, and with little time at his disposal it was these 

 which received his attention and the fruit trees were neg- 

 lected, as the only market for fruit was in his family and 

 perhaps with a few of his neighbors ; and it is probable that 

 the one who most appreciated the fruit was the " Barefoot 

 boy, witli cheek of tan," who munched his apple as he drove 

 the cows to pasture at early morn. 



In time the farms began to run down, and the struggle to 

 raise sufficient crops became more severe, thus concentrating 

 all the farmers energies in his special lines, and the fruit 



• Agriculture of Massachusetts, 1907. 



