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count of dishonest methods of packing, lack of business 

 methods and cooperation. 



Facing conditions as they are, shall we be content to 

 take second place, acknowledge 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 fruit grower has 

 had his palmiest days and must soon look to his laurels, for 

 the Eastern fruit grower must soon awake to his opportuni- 

 ties. 



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 cannot be convinced 

 there is anything better than our New England hillsides. 

 When well formed, the product is the equal in appearance 

 and superior in quality to that of the West. 



Are they more immune from insect pests and fungous 

 diseases? On the whole, I think they have as many obstacles 

 to contend with. Is their climate more favorable to develop- 

 ing a more perfect fruit ? On the whole, I would say no. Col- 

 or may be easier to get, yet we can do as well under well di- 

 rected effort. Why, therefore, do they so excel us at the 

 present time? I think we should find the reply to a certain 

 extent in the answer which a friend of mine received this 

 summer when traveling through the Hood River region in 

 Oregon^" Fight them." 



There it was a business proposition to raise fruit, and 

 the best fruit, anything that interfered was an enemy which 

 was fought and overcome. We have San Jose scale, codling 

 moth, apple scale, 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 

 bearing condition, but gathered all over this Eastern country 

 are any quantity of orchards from 25 to 50 years old that are 

 in total or partial neglect. 



Is it possible to take these old orchards in hand and put 

 them in good bearing condition? Is it a profitable under- 

 taking? To both questions I would answer yes. Can one ex- 

 pect to get as good fruit from these reclaimed trees as from 

 newer plantings? I would answer that I myself have had 



