APPLE GROWING IN NEW ENGLAND AS A BUSINESS. 

 By E. Cyrus Miller, Haydexville, Mass. 



Given before the Society, with stereopticon illustrations, January 29, 1910. 



Perhaps no other phase of agricultural effort has been so promi- 

 nently before the people of New England for the past year as has the 

 apple industry. Everyone has taken to talking, speaking, or writing 

 on this subject until it must seem that everyone must be at least 

 reasonably well informed on the subject. While I have been talk- 

 ing for years about the great advantages which New England 

 possesses for growing apples, both for home use and for commercial 

 purposes, and while I have continued to plant new orchards and 

 give better care to those already established, and while I am as 

 optimistic as ever regarding the future of apple growing, I do 

 believe the time has come to approach the subject in a most careful, 

 sane, and conservative state of mind. Much has been said and 

 written that, while in a measure true, has been somewhat highly 

 colored and sometimes exaggerated, so that many who might be 

 interested in this line of thought might become somewhat deceived 

 as to the true facts in the case. 



First of all, in my opinion, apple growing in New England is not 

 a get-rich-quick proposition, neither is it the easy way of acquiring 

 a competency that some might and do picture it. It is, however, 

 in my opinion, one of the surest, safest, most interesting and 

 profitable lines of agricultural effort that can possibly be associated 

 with our section of the country. All natural economic conditions 

 favor the development and extension of the apple industry with us. 

 Our climate, which means the proper amount and relation of heat 

 and moisture, as related to the growing and developing the crop; 

 our soil, which means a soil which is reasonably well supplied with 

 latent fertility; and our elevations, which afford us most excellent 

 surface and drainage, all make for conditions which are unexcelled, 

 if even equalled, in any other one section of our country. 



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