168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



mixture, as they possess no efficient means of keeping the 

 solid matters thoroughly suspended in the liquid. 



Lest some of you should entertain the feeling that, in the 

 face of all this array of description and detail, the contest is 

 not worth the expense and the effort, and be disposed to 

 give up the fight in advance, permit me to recall to your 

 attention the few essential points. First, the absolute 

 animal demand for the elements of fertility. Fortius pur- 

 pose we shall find that it is best to be generous. Call it 

 $15 for an acre. Second, the outfit. One hydrosprayer, 

 $5 ; two pounds of sulphate of copper, one pound of Paris 

 green, perhaps ten gallons of kerosene and a bar of soap, 

 $1.50. Third, three days' labor, $4.50, making a total of 

 $26, of which two-thirds or more of the price of the hydro- 

 sprayer may be credited to additional acres and future years. 

 Does this enumeration seem forbidding ? Do you know of a 

 more promising investment for your capital or your labor? 

 I have no doubt that every time in the last ten years I have 

 neglected or failed to make use of the agencies herein speci- 

 fied, the result has shown that every dollar thus saved has 

 cost me five in the end. 



I have made no mention of the important subject of 

 thinning fruits, for the reason that I fully considered that 

 matter with others in an address that I had the honor of 

 delivering before this Board two years ago. Additional 

 experience would but emphasize all that is therein contained. 



Every year our markets are teeming with inferior speci- 

 mens of fruits, the product of neglected orchards and fields. 

 If your highest ambition is to swell the supply of such, you 

 need no advice from me, competent as I may be from sad 

 experience to give it ; but, if you are striving for the best 

 and at the same time the most remunerative results, you 

 will be ready to give heed to any and every suggestion that 

 promises to further these ends. 



The Chairman. You have had the experience of one of 

 the most successful fruit growers we have in the State of 

 Massachusetts. If he has suggested anything that has not 

 been fully explained, or if there are any questions which 

 you would like to ask, he will be ready to answer them. 



