172 



young man, I believe it should be changed to come East an<J 

 develop the old NeAV England Farm. 



No longer do we believe the too often popular idea, that 

 our soil is worn out and exhausted. All it needs is proper 

 management, right selection of crops, intelligence, faith in 

 the business, and capital for development. 



The recent New England Fruit Show demonstrated that 

 in fruit growing at least we can hold our own with any other 

 section. At last conservative old New England, whose sons 

 have been the leading pioneer spirit in developing the "West, 

 is finally aroused to her own great possibilities at home. 



Specialization, in my opinion, is the key note of the 

 hour — the day of the general farmer must soon go. He will 

 have to give way to his neighbor who works along one 'or 

 two special lines. 



I am a great believer in the possibilities of fruit grow- 

 ing here in New England. I believe we shall soon demon- 

 strate it beyond question. In the belief of these possibilities 

 I have been Avorking for several years on the renovation of 

 old orchards, and to this subject I would call your attention. 



Drive through any portion of the East and you will find 

 the situation practically the same, the old orchards, formerly 

 profitable and productive, now neglected and going to decay. 

 A¥hy New England farmers have been so unprogressive as 

 to allow such conditions to exist, is hard to fathom. 



Can anyone t-ell me of any more profitable section of 

 the farm than a well eared for orchard — yet it is generally 

 the last thing on the farm to receive intelligent attention. 



Let us consider why these orchards have been so neglect- 

 ed. Is it that the weather conditions or seasons have 

 changed, or insect enemies and injurious diseases made the 

 difficulties unsurmountable? Whatever the cause, we are 

 brought face to face with conditions as they exist today, and 

 we ask ourselves, what are we going to do about it? 



Shall we continue to see the old orchards decay, neglect 

 to plant out new ones, and see fr-uit raised several thousand 

 miles away sold right before us for two or three times what 

 our own native fruit brings, and yet net these "Western 

 growers a handsome profit after paying freight, commissions,, 

 etc.? 



"We dislike to admit it, yet 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. This is on ac- 



