PEACH GROWING IN NEW ENGLAND. 27 



that they were mostly a seedUng peach of hardy varieties and those 

 that reproduced themselves from stones and before the introduction 

 of the borer and yellows. The fact that they have borers and yellows 

 in New York, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and frost 

 in all of these states, even in Florida, the land of orange growing, 

 should encourage us to continue, for we are no worse off than they 

 are. 



The possibilities of New England for agricultural and horti- 

 cultural success are greater than any other part of the United 

 States. First, because of its markets. In Massachusetts alone, 

 there are nearly one hundred cities and towns with a popula- 

 tion of 5000 or more, with a land area of about 8000 square miles. 

 There is not another state in the country, outside of New England, 

 that can begin to compare with it. It has a greater variety of soils 

 than any other place. 



Professor Shaler says, "New England is one of the most perma- 

 nently fertile parts of the United States, made so by the steady and 

 gradual disintegration of her rocks and drift formations." This is 

 of importance considering the experiments lately made by experts 

 connected with the Good Roads Bureau of the Department of 

 Agriculture and the German scientists and investigators with 

 the use of stone meal. One large grower in this vicinity says, 

 "Peaches have been grown on our farm ever since I can remember 

 and there has not been a year that we have not had them. The 

 climate may be against us, but the yellows is the worst thing we 

 have to contend with, although on the whole I do not think we are 

 any worse off than they are in some other parts of the country." 



Another advantage in favor of New England is that the fruit 

 can be left on the trees until ripe. As a result the peaches have 

 better flavor and color. Boston dealers say that the peaches grown 

 in eastern Massachusetts are the finest in flavor and the handsomest 

 in shape and color. I think we can grow peaches as successfully 

 on our hilly lands as they do in New Jersey and Delaware. Another 

 grower informs me that our worst trouble is to get trees true to 

 name. The most reliable way, he thinks, is to grow our own fruit 

 from healthy stones and bud from strictly healthy trees. Then 

 you get what you want and a tendency toward the elimination of 

 the yellows. I think it would be well to grow seedlings every year. 



