66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



brand, the larger peaches being of a certain size all the way 

 through the basket, — just as many of the choicest ones in 

 the top as there were anywhere ; another grade a little 

 smaller in size, sorted according to the same standard, and 

 absolutely the same all the way through ; and still another 

 smaller grade up to the same general standard of grade 

 all the way through. Then I told them that we would 

 label them and s'uarantee them. I talked to these deal- 

 ers in that way. Well, of course they wanted to say 

 something, and they all said much the same thing, though 

 in different lano:ua2:e, l)ut the sum and substance of it 

 all was: "You look like an honest farmer, perhaps you 

 mean to be ; but we have never yet found a farmer who 

 Tcnew how to put fruit on the market. Perhaps you would 

 like to do it, but you cannot do it if you would." That is 

 practically what they said. But they wanted to encourage 

 me a little, and so they said, " You think you are going to 

 do something, and when you get your fruit ready, come in 

 and perhaps we will give you an order." That was all I 

 could get out of them. It Avas not a very pleasant thing to 

 hear, but that is the way they met me. I am not going to 

 tell you how it came out, — it might appear like boasting. 



Now, these are- homely truths, but they are truths that 

 ought to be in the mind of every farmer in Massachusetts or 

 anywhere else who proposes to make a single dollar out of 

 fruit culture ; and, if he does not have these truths clearly 

 in his mind all the way through, he had better keep out of 

 the business. It is no place for him. 



With reference to the question of markets, as I have said 

 before, you have the best of markets right here at your doors. 

 They are always with you, and they are going to increase. 



As to the question of soil, nearly every acre of tillable 

 land in Massachusetts is capable of producing some class of 

 fruit, and producing it profitably. So there is no question 

 about the soil conditions. The soil conditions of New Eng- 

 land are right for producing the very best fruit that can be 

 produced in America. I do not know any locality where 

 finer apples are grown than are grown in Worcester County ; 

 and yet you are letting other sections sui)ply the best mar- 

 kets for fruit products to be found anywhere. Worcester 



