1898.] ESSAYS. 145 



up since the close of the Civil War, and the greater portion of 

 it within the past twent}^ years. 



The peach has attracted considerable attention during the past 

 few years, and many large orchards have been planted. Some 

 have proved a success, others have proved a failure. 



This has been the history of peach growing in this State. In 

 looking over the reports of the Massachusetts State Board of 

 Agriculture of fifty or more years ago I find this statement is 

 made : "Peaches do not do as well as they did fifty years pre- 

 vious, and the greatest success is obtained where trees are planted 

 on high oround." 



This is no less true today than it was one hundred or more 

 years ago, and the site selected for the growing of peaches 

 should be land higher than that of the surrounding country, hav- 

 ing a good circulation of air, where the fruit buds will be less 

 liable to be killed during the winter. 



Still there is no certainty that the buds will not be injured in 

 Massachusetts even when the trees are planted in the most favora- 

 ble situations. During the past seventeen years peach trees with 

 me have given good crops in 1883, '89, '93, '95 and '97, and 

 partial crops in 1887, '88, '91 and '94, making five good crops 

 and four partial crops. I do not think it wise to reckon on over 

 two full crops of fruit during the life of a peach tree here in 

 Massachusetts. At least in my locality the price of home-grown 

 peaches is not what it used to be, the price of the '95 and '97 

 crops being very low. There will probably never come a time 

 when all the home-grown peaches, if well grown, will not find a 

 market at a price above that of southern peaches, on account of 

 their better flavor, color and less waste. 



With small fruits the markets of the future will be supplied 

 with its best fruit from local sources, and those who grow the 

 best fruit will sell their products at a profit, while the grower of 

 inferior fruit will be compelled to sell at a loss. 



In the growino; of fruits it is the same as in other kinds of 

 business. More depends on the man than on the business, and 

 if one has not a liking for fruit growing and is willing to take 

 for his motto and live up to it, "Eternal vigilance is the price 



