162 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



there are few if any of our States where success is more certain 

 or the results more profitable than in Massachusetts. The con- 

 sumption of fruit has become so common as to constitute it one of 

 the most important articles of daily food. The loss of a crop 

 is now deemed as a great calamity ; its abundance as one of the 

 choicest blessings, adding largely to the social health and comfort 

 and to the commerce and wealth of the country. It is wise, there- 

 fore, for this Board to take under its special cognizance this de- 

 partment of husbandry and to offer every encouragement for the 

 further development of this interesting branch of industry. 



The tree fruits which may be profitably grown in Massa- 

 chusetts are the apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry and quince, 

 mentioned in the order of their importance or relative value. 

 The apple is the most valuable fruit grown. It enters more 

 largely into consumption as an article of food than any of 

 the fruits. It is admirably adapted to our soil and location. 

 We are situated near the centre of the best apple belt known. 

 The northern portion of the Middle States, New England and 

 portions of the Provinces produce the best apples known to 

 commerce. This fruit improves in quality as we pass from 

 warmer to colder climate up to the limit where it can be suc- 

 cessfully grown. The apple quickly responds to care and 

 Cultivation, but a large portion of the fruit in our markets 

 shows the eftects of neglect in cultivation and care in pick- 

 ing, assorting and preparing for market. The apple is con- 

 stantly becoming more exclusively a farm product, as the 

 space required for growing the trees prevents their being 

 set on estates of limited area. Many of the best orchards 

 in the State have been wholly or partially destroyed in the 

 smaller cities and larger villages to make room for building 

 improvements. 



The land best calculated for an apple orchard is not the 

 most desirable for ordinary farm purposes. The ideal loca- 

 tion for an apple orchard is a hill sloping in any direction 

 rather than the level plain, the advantages being that the 

 trees are more open to the light and air, giving better color 

 and flavor to the fruit and better natural drainage. 



Formerly an abundant crop was not desirable, as the 

 supply so far exceeded the demand as to leave little 

 profit for the portion that was sold ; but within the last 



