2160 NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



among the so-called luxuries may be classed fruits, 

 fancy vegetables, and flowers. 



The soil of Massachusetts is generally considered un- 

 productive and poorly adapted to horticultural pur- 

 suits, and this is true in so far as it refers to large areas 

 of exceptionally fertile land, of which that in the Con- 

 necticut Valley is the only section of more than a few 

 acres in extent. Everywhere about the state, however, 

 there are small areas of land suited to the growth of 

 almost every crop succeeding in similar latitudes. By 

 business enterprise, persistent effort, and skill, profitable 

 horticultural crops can be grown. The local products 

 largely supply the markets in their season. Apples are 

 also exported. 



There are no large areas de- 

 voted to the growth of either 

 orchard- or small-fruits in Mas- 

 sachusetts, but small areas of 

 nearly all these fruits are very 

 profitably grown in most sections 

 of the state. The amount of fruit 

 produced within the limits of the 

 state is not nearly up to the 

 home consumption, except cran- 

 berries, and possibly the apple in 

 some seasons. Even in seasons 

 of an unusual crop in the state, 

 large quantities of apples from 

 other states are shipped into 

 our markets, because in many 

 cases they are of superior size and beauty. 



Apples of especially fine quality are grown on the 

 granite soils of the middle and northern sections of the 

 state, extending from Newburyport to Athol on the 

 north, and from Northbridge to Needham on the south, 

 and a small area in the Connecticut Valley. 



Pears are grown in small areas within a short radius 

 of most of the cities and large towns, eastern Massa- 

 chusetts being particularly adapted to this fruit. Pears 

 are also shipped into our markets from the southern 

 states and California, and as the market for this fruit 

 is limited, prices often rule very low. 



Peaches of the finest quality are profitably grown 

 more or less over the entire state on elevated land with 

 a northern, northwestern,, or northeastern exposure. 

 On low land and that with a southern exposure the 

 fruit-buds are winter-killed three years out of five. 

 However, even under these conditions, when the trees 

 are planted on rather light high land and well cared for, 

 one crop in three years is often more profitable than 

 most other fruit or vegetable crops. The fruit on trees 

 well grown is large, of the finest color and quality, and 

 the fresh, ripe condition in which the grower can put 

 it into the local markets makes it quickly salable at the 

 highest prices. The peach-belt may be included in that 

 of the apple. 



Plums are not grown to a great extent, the larger 

 markets being supplied largely by New York and Cali- 

 fornia. Few orchards remain productive longer than ten 

 or twelve years, on account of the black-knot, leaf-blight 

 and brown-rot. Within the past ten or fifteen years 

 both European and Japanese plums have been largely 

 planted, but they succeed only for a short time, except 

 with the best care. They are planted in small numbers 

 in poultry-yards and gardens. 



The cherry, owing to the attack of the black aphis, 

 the plum-curculio and brown-rot, is very little grown 

 as an orchard-fruit. A few vigorous and productive 

 trees may be seen here and there by the roadside, about 

 old homesteads or on the lawn, where they live longer 

 and attain greater size than when grown under a high 

 state of cultivation in the garden or orchard, because 

 of the fact that when grown too rapidly the trunks crack 

 on the south side and the trees soon die. Our markets 

 are largely supplied with cherries from California, New 

 York, and other states. 



Grapes have been more or less planted from Fitch- 

 burg on the north to Concord and Lexington on the 

 south, but succeed only on elevated land with a south- 

 ern exposure. Only the earliest varieties can be grown 

 unless the fruiting canes are girdled. 



Small-fruits are more grown and more nearly supply 

 local markets than do the large fruits, but are grown 

 only on small areas. The supply of very early fruit 

 comes from the southern states of the country, but 

 home-grown fruit is so much superior in quality that 



2490. Massachusetts, 

 showing some of the im- 

 portant horticultural 

 areas. 



it sells at reasonable prices, notwithstanding prices 

 may have been very much reduced by an over-supply 

 of the southern product. Of the small-fruits, the straw- 

 berry is the most widely grown. There are no large 

 areas especially devoted to strawberries, but most 

 homes have strawberry-beds of good size. Currants 

 are grown to a considerable extent, almost every gar- 

 den containing more or less currant bushes for home 

 supply, while many large plantations may be found 

 near every large town or city. The conditions of success 

 are a rather moist, rich soil, with the bushes trained 

 into a very compact form and pruned so that the fruit 

 will be borne on wood that is not over three or four 

 years old. Gooseberries are little grown, although the 

 demand is rather on the increase. The more hardy 

 kinds can be as easily grown as the currant, while the 

 European sorts and their hybrids, many of them, re- 

 quire much care and skill. Like the currant, the black- 

 berry is largely grown for home use, and also for market. 

 It succeeds upon a great variety of soils, can be grown 

 cheaply and sells at good prices. Few plantations will 

 be profitable on the same land more than from five to 

 seven years unless the soil is strong and rich. It is the 

 practice of most growers to plant a new lot every six or 

 seven years. The red raspberry is the most popular of 

 the bush-fruits, and when successfully grown is the most 

 profitable. For success it requires a deep sandy loam, 

 retentive of moisture, but plantations must be renewed 

 after six or eight years' growth on one piece of land. 

 The blackcap raspberry has found less and less favor 

 each year, and can only be sold at very low prices in 

 the city markets. 



The business of market-gardening has made rapid 

 strides in the state in the past ten years, and the de- 

 mand for choice vegetables continues more or less the 

 year round. Even in the matter of competition with 

 vegetables from the South during the winter, the local 

 growers have reached a good degree of success. The 

 truck-gardens are mostly located near large cities where 

 products can be shipped by freight or express. In 

 almost every part of the state may be found forcing- 



