18 BO.AJID OF AGRICULTURE. 



generally, for the apple, for the reason that kmcl that can- 

 not be cultivated, — and wc have hundreds of thousands of 

 acres in Massachusetts, — may be made to produce paying 

 crops of fruit ; that the trees, when properly treated under 

 such conditions, live longer than those that have their roots 

 cut and torn by the plow ; that the fruit is of more brilliant 

 color and will keep longer. Under no conditions can we 

 expect, however, to grow good npplcs or other fruit without 

 suppljdng an abundance of plant food. The crop in its 

 present condition is large enough, as we all know from 

 the prices obtained ; but if we can increase the size and 

 quality of our fruit, both the demand and price will also 

 increase. 



Insects. 



One of the great causes of inferior fruit is due to tho 

 ravages of injurious insects, but, as Professor Fernald is to 

 talk to you upon the subject this afternoon, I will only 

 touch upon the matter to urge more vigilant fight against 

 them. We should depend more upon the use of swine, 

 poultry, and other animals, and the cider press, for the de- 

 struction of the codling moth, the tar or ink band upon the 

 trunk, and pyrethrum powder for spraying the trees for tho 

 destruction of the canker worm, rather than tho dangerous 

 method of spraying with paris green. The borers can be 

 easily destroyed by the use of the knife and wire. The 

 holes made by the escaped insects or by cutting out tho 

 larvte should be filled up at once with grafting wax, putty 

 or plaster of paris, to prevent decay. 



Pruning should only be done to give the trees good form, 

 to enable the pickers to gather the fruit easily, to remove 

 such branches as are being injured by rubbing against 

 each other and those that are decaying or dead. If largo 

 branches be removed they should be cut clean and close to 

 the trunk, and tho wound be covered with tar, linseed oil 

 paint or grafting wax. 



Varieties, 

 In giving a list of the best varieties it is impossible to 

 name one which will be entirely suited to all locations or 

 popular in all markets. The list that will perhaps give 



