NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 2161 



houses for the growth of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, 

 rhubarb, asparagus, and the like, and notwithstanding 

 the cost of such structures and the fuel to keep up the 

 necessary heat, the increase in the number of forcing- 

 houses in the state within the past few years is a certain 

 indication that the business is profitable. 



It is perhaps in the growth of cut-flowers and house 

 and decorative plants that Massachusetts excels in 

 horticulture. As a rule, the largest establishments of 

 this kind are located near the large cities, though in 

 some cases they may be found in some of the more 

 rural towns. The horticulturists of Massachusetts 

 understand their advantages in having the best markets 

 in the world at their doors, and a great variety of 

 the soils suitable for the growth of many of the varied 

 crops. By persistent effort and superior skill they 

 could supply these markets largely, and thus retain 

 within the state much of the wealth that now goes 

 outside to pay for the produce that could be raised at 

 home. 



In commercial horticulture, Massachusetts is not the 

 equal of some other states, although its market-garden- 

 ing and floricultural interests are large, but its influence 

 on the horticulture of the country is more important 

 than acres and tonnage. The best horticulture is that 

 which develops under difficulties, because it develops 

 the man. The love of the country and attachment to its 

 own soil are strong in Massachusetts. Individuality has 

 full course. It is a land of home-loving people. It has 

 developed the amateur horticulturist to perfection, 

 the person who grows the plant and dresses the soil for 

 the very love of it. There are many large collections of 

 choice plants, and great numbers of artistic, compact 

 and tidy garden-homes. There is keen appreciation of 

 the merit of well-grown things. The influence of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society has been incalcu- 

 lable. It is our oldest and strongest geographical organi- 

 zation. Since 1829 it has had its stated discussions, 

 held its periodical shows, collected its library and 

 records. It is a center of education and culture. The 

 establishment of Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, in 

 1831 was the beginning of the movement in this coun- 

 try for cemeteries in the open as distinguished from the 

 churchyard. 



A list of persons influential in developing the horti- 

 culture of Massachusetts must necessarily be incom- 

 plete, as so much amateur and professional interest hi 

 horticulture has developed in this state. The following 

 persons, however, may be mentioned: Marshall P. 

 Wilder (see Volume III, page 1603); Robert Manning 

 (page 1587); C. M. Hovey (page 1580); W. C. Strong 

 (page 1598); O. B. Hadwin. W. W. Rawson (page 

 1593); Jabez Fisher, and many others. "The History 

 of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society," pub- 

 lished in 1880, should be consulted for many other 

 personalities. 



Public-service agencies for horticulture. 



The land-grant college of Massachusetts was estab- 

 lished at Amherst in 1865, and opened for work in 1867. 

 There are at present seven members of the horticultural 

 staff. 



The Experiment Station is also located at Amherst, 

 being established in 1882. Its horticultural staff num- 

 bers fifteen members. 



Extension work is also carried on throughout the 

 state. Bureaus are being established in each county, 

 which are giving invaluable aid to the horticulturist. 



The State Board of Agriculture supports a series of 

 lectures upon agricultural and horticultural subjects. 



Several counties have established agricultural and 

 horticultural schools, and a few of the high-schools 

 are introducing these courses. 



Special inspectors are appointed for nursery inspec- 

 tion and the control of insect pests and diseases. There 

 are also special bee inspectors. 



137 



Statistics (Thirteenth Census). 



The approximate land area of Massachusetts in 1910 

 was 5,144,960 acres. The land in farms numbered 

 2,875,941 acres, or 55.9 per cent of the land area. The 

 improved land in farms numbered 1,164,501 acres; the 

 woodland in farms 1,064,553; and other unimproved 

 land in farms 646,887. The number of all the farms in 

 1910 was 36,917; the average acreage to a farm being 

 77.9. [The total area is 8,266 square miles.] 



The leading agricultural crops are cereals, hay and 

 forage, and tobacco. There was a slight increase in the 

 acreage occupied by cereals from 53,385 in 1899 to 

 55,267 in 1909, when the value of the products from 

 cereals was $1,617,131, or 5.1 per cent of the total value 

 of all crops. The acreage devoted to hay and forage 

 decreased from 610,023 in 1899 to 519,503 in 1909, when 

 the value of the production was $11,280,989, or 35.3 

 per cent of the total value of all crops. The acreage of 

 tobacco increased from 3,826 acres in 1899 to 5,521 

 acres in 1909, when the value of the production was 

 $1,218,060. The value of forest products produced on 

 the farms in 1909 was $2,668,410, as compared with 

 $1,944,714, their value in 1899. 



Horticultural crops are the fruits and nuts; small- 

 fruits; vegetables, including potatoes; and flowers and 

 plants and nursery products. In 1909 the value of the 

 fruits and nuts produced was $2,108,799, as compared 

 with $1,218,659, the value in 1899. The acreage of 

 small-fruits increased from 8,346 in 1899 to 9,552 in 

 1909, when the value of the small-fruits was $1,676,790, 

 or 5.2 per cent of the total value of all crops. In 1909 

 the total acreage of potatoes and other vegetables was 

 61,686, and their value $8,184,213. The acreage of 

 vegetables, excluding the potato, was 37,220 and their 

 value $6,189,857, both acreage and value being de- 

 cidedly greater than hi 1899. The raising of flowers and 

 plants and nursery products is of relative importance. 

 The acreage increased from 1,478 in 1899 to 2,750 in 

 1909, when the value of the products was $3,061,342, 

 which was 9.6 per cent of the total value of all crops. 



The total quantity of orchard-fruits produced in 1909 

 was 2,763,679 bushels, valued at $2,074,270. Apples 

 contributed more than nine-tenths of this quantity; 

 peaches and pears most of the remainder. The number 

 of apple trees of bearing age in 1910 was 1,367,379; 

 those not of bearing age, 355,868. The production in 



1909 was 2,550,259 bushels, valued at $1,780,290. The 

 number of peach and nectarine trees of bearing age in 



1910 was 154,592; those not of bearing age, 162,114. 

 The production in 1909 was 91,756 bushels, valued at 

 $138,716. The number of pear trees of bearing age in 

 1910 was 113,365; those not of bearing age. 38,378. The 

 production in 1909 was 96,071 bushels, valued at $110,- 

 069. In addition, 17,814 bushels of plums and prunes 

 were produced in 1909, valued at $28,253; 4,761 bushels 

 of cherries, valued at $10,848; 2,863 bushels of quinces, 

 valued at $5,754; and minor quantities of apricots and 

 mulberries. 



Grape-growing has little significance in Massachu- 

 setts. In 1910 the grape-vines of bearing age numbered 

 58,277; those not of bearing age, 14,261. The produc- 

 tion in 1909 was 1,132,838 pounds, valued at $30,858. 



Nuts are of less importance than grapes. The total 

 production in 1909 was 134,920 pounds, valued at 

 $3,671. The leading nuts were: 40,064 pounds of black 

 walnuts, valued at $1,219; 60,151 pounds of butter- 

 nuts, valued at $984; and 23,834 pounds of hickory- 

 nuts, valued at $904. 



Cranberries are by far the most important of the 

 small-fruits grown in Massachusetts, with strawberries 

 second in importance. The acreage of cranberries 

 increased from 5,128 in 1899 to 6,577 in 1909, when the 

 production was 22,714,496 quarts, valued at $1,062,205. 

 The acreage of strawberries for the same period de- 

 creased from 2,027 in 1899 to 2,015 in 1909, when the 

 production was 5,518,867 quarts, valued at $495,438. 



