10 P.D. 123. 



Fruit Growing in Massachusetts. 



In most respects fruit growing^ in this State is a great new industry. Of 

 course fruit has been grown within the state from the very earliest Colonial days 

 and many of our best varieties of fruit, including the Baldwin apple, Con- 

 cord grape and Bartlett pear, were originated here. Even as previously con- 

 ducted the industry has usually been profitable, but a renewed interest and much 

 improved methods are rapidly putting this branch of agriculture on a par with 

 other great industries of the Commonwealth. The following extract from a paper 

 by the secretary of the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is significant : 



"The business of raising and selling apples in Massachusetts has just begun 

 as a real business. For many years the natural markets for our wonderful apples 

 have gradually been taken away from our growers by the competition of other 

 sections where the advantages of up-to-date cultural methods and of grading and 

 packing have been more readily grasped and applied. The time has come to re- 

 gain the lost ground and encourage our apple growers in developing this bvisiness 

 to its full possibilities. 



"Some interesting figures were recently given out by Dr. A. W. Gilbert, State 

 Commissioner of Agriculture, regarding apple growing in Massachusetts. He 

 stated that whereas the average per acre value of all crops grown in this state 

 during a five year period, 1917 to 1921, was only $49, the average per acre value 

 of the apple crop was about $86. Obviously apples are among the crops of 

 highest economic value. By way of contrast he stated that in Kansas, Iowa and 

 Wisconsin the average per acre value of all crops was about ten, sixteen and 

 twenty dollars respectively. 



" 'Speaking of apple culti;re as a business,' Dr. Gilbert further stated, 'it is 

 a large industry. In 1923 Massachusetts grew three million bushels of apples 

 on a million and a quarter of apple trees of bearing age which occupied 

 forty-eight thousand acres of land. Those apples were worth in December 

 of that year, according to the Federal Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 

 four and a half million dollars. For the five years, 1917 to 1921, the apple 

 yield averaged two and a half million bushels with a farm value of four and 

 one-eighth million dollars.' 



"Those in a position to know say that the Massachusetts grower now furnishes 

 36% of the apples distributed through the Boston Market. By encouraging a 

 steady improvement in the methods of growing, packing and distributing our 

 Massachusetts apples the time should come when the most discriminating trade 

 will demand and be able at all times to obtain the local product." 



Poultry Raising. 



The business of poultry keeping has also shown marked advancement during 

 the last few years. The association of certified poultry breeders extended its 

 operations during the year and met with marked success. Other poultry associa- 

 tions have become more active and this increased activity has been evidenced by 

 larger poultry shows and improvement in the quality of exhibits of poultry at 

 these shows and at our agricultural fairs. Although our poultry producers ap- 

 parently must meet somewhat higher costs of production than producers in other 

 sections, their situation in close contact with the best markets in the country and 

 their unrivalled opportunity to produce high quality eggs and meat for these 

 markets give them a marked advantage over their moiT distant competitors. 



Beep and Tobacco. 



Our tobacco producers have recently been confronted with a partial failure of 

 their supply of natural fertilizers, owing to the rapid decrease in the number of 

 horses kept in our cities and large towns. So far no substitute for the lost supply 

 of stable manure has been found. A suggestion has been made that many tobacco 

 growers might readily feed beef cattle during a part of the year and thus supply 

 themselves with a considerable quantity of good natural fertilizer. This project is 

 being worked out by our Division of Dairying and Animal Husbandry. 



