75 



Ihey are too indisposed to put forth the exertion. But, 

 .'gentlemen, some one will do it if you don't. 



These hills are too valuable to remain many more years 

 xincultivated. A few have already realized the richness of 

 these hills and are reaping good reward. 



P'ollowing Mr. Patch, Dr. George M. Twitchell, a dele- 

 "gate from the Maine Society, reported for the New England 

 ■conference of fruit growers. Definite action had been taken 

 regarding the size of the barrel or box. and also touching 

 state legislation to secure on every barrel or package the 

 came of the variety and the name of the grower. By invita- 

 tion the next meeting of the conference will be held with 

 the New Hampshire Horticuliure Society, next October. By 

 unanimous vote the association endorsed the action of this 

 fruit conference. 



The closing talk of the forenoon Avas given by Mr. Wil- 

 fred Wheeler of Concord. 



POSSIBILITIES OF SMALL FRUITS AS A MONEY CROP 

 IN MASSACHUSETTS 



Let us look for a moment upon our present conditions 

 and see what cause there is for encouragement in the mat- 

 ter of raising small fruits. We have a densely populated 

 state when compared with other states of the union, with 

 more flourishing cities and towns in a small area than we 

 find anywhere else in the United States. Our census shows 

 that our population is increasing rapidly, and every one 

 tnows that this population is using per capita at least four 

 times more fruit today than was used ten years ago. Then, 

 too, our export trade in fruit is going not entirely to foreign 

 ports but to other states north and west of us whose season 

 is later than ours, and who on that account can readily 

 dispose of our products. 



Probably our best condition for the possibilities of 

 •small fruits as a money crop in IMassachusetts is our posi- 

 tion in relation to our markets. "What other section of the 

 country has such advantages in this respect lying as we do 

 in the center of New England with railroads going in all 

 directions carryiujg our products to many large centers of 

 population? 



