1898.] ESSAYS. 143 



perate zone the apple is the most imi)oi*tant, and notwithstanding 

 what has been said about our soil and climate, Massachusetts 

 Baldwins, Greenings and Roxbury Russets stand first in the 

 markets as to quality and size, and usually lead in price. 

 Although Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont may have varie- 

 ties that are of better flavor, and will keep longer, their Bald- 

 wins, Greenings and Roxbury Russets are smaller in size, and, 

 as a rule, sell for less money. 



If we can grow better Baldwins, Greenings and Roxbury 

 Russets, and get better prices for them than they can in other 

 sections, we may be well satisfied, so far as the production of 

 apples is concerned. 



Massachusetts has hundreds and thousands of acres of land 

 well adapted to the growing of apples and other fruits that 

 today is made of little use. If this land could be planted to 

 fruits by the right individuals, the income derived from it would 

 be increased, and, instead of growing less year by year (as farm 

 property throughout this and other States has for the past twen- 

 ty years), its value would be increased. 



There is a town in this State where the assessed value of farm 

 property, with but one single exception, is less than it was 

 twenty years ago. This land was planted to fruits, and instead 

 of being assessed the same or less than it was twenty years ago, 

 it is assessed four times what it was then, and the assessors say 

 "it is not now assessed one-half what it is worth." Here is an 

 instance where Massachusetts farm property has not decreased 

 in value, and there can and should be hundreds of similar cases 

 scattered over the State. 



It may be said if apples are planted extensively the markets 

 will be overstocked and prices will drop to such a figure that 

 there will be no profit to the grower. It is just here that 

 a revolution must come in the marketing of all our fruits. It is 

 not the quantity of choice fruit, well handled and packed, placed 

 on the market, that breaks the price, but the inferior fruit or 

 good fruit improperly handled that gluts the markets. 



This poor fruit forced on the market must be disposed of for 

 what it will bring, and this prevents the sale of good fruit, un- 



