NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 43 



after paying freight, commission, etc. ? We dislike to admit 

 it bnt there is no question but that the western apple has 

 captured the fancy high priced trade away from us and we 

 alone are to blame. 



Facing conditions as they are shall we be content to take 

 second place acknowledging we are beaten and simply accept. 

 what the market will offer for an inferior article? I for one 

 say no. In my opinion the western grower has had his 

 palmiest days and must soon look to his laurels for the east- 

 ern fruit grower must soon awake to his opportunities. 



We may well ask the question why we do not grow as 

 good fruit as our western neighbors ? Is their soil better 

 adapted than ours to fruit growing I can hardly believe 

 there is anything better than our own New England hills. 

 \\ 'hen well grown the product is equal or superior to that 

 of the west. The recent New England Fruit Show demon- 

 strated that while we may as yet be weak on grading and 

 packing, our product is not to be despised. Are they more 

 immune from insect pests and fungous diseases? On the 

 whole I believe they have as many obstacles to contend with 

 as we. Is their climate more favorable to developing a more 

 perfect fruit? Possibly color is easier to get, and yet on the 

 whole I would say no. Why, then, do they so excell us at 

 the present time? It seems to me it is more because they 

 have reduced fruit growing to a business proposition where 

 organized effort supplants that of the individual. There it 

 is a business proposition to raise fruit, and best fruit, and 

 anything that interferes with it is fought and overcome. 



We have scales, codling moth, etc., until it seems as 

 though one enemy was overcome only to be confronted by 

 another. What shall we do, give up the struggle ? No ! 

 emulate the example of our western friends and fight them. 



I have called your attention to our neglected orchards 

 and western competition, facts of which you are all aware. 

 It takes time to get an orchard started and in profitable bear- 

 ing condition, but scattered all over this eastern country are 



