xxvi BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The Encouragement of Orcharding. 

 The appropriation of S500 for this purpose was expended 

 along different lines from those of the previous year, and the 

 results are believed to have been even greater for the apple 

 growers of the Commonwealth. The greater part of the money 

 available was devoted to the scr\'ices and expenses of an expert 

 apple packer, INIr. John B. Castner, of Hood River, Ore., who 

 came here primarily to give demonstrations of the best methods 

 of box packing at the New England Fruit Show. ]\Ir. Castner 

 is admitted to be the best man for the purpose, having packed 

 prize-winning exhibits for the great apple shows of the country, 

 and being well able to explain the processes of packing and the 

 reasons for them. He came on several weeks in advance of the 

 Fruit Show and remained over for some little time after its 

 close, giving instructions in apple packing to various growers, 

 who paid for his services and expenses while with them, arrang- 

 ing and setting up the apple exhibit at the American Land and 

 Irrigation Exposition, and acting as judge at the exhibition of 

 the ISIaine State Pomological Association. As packing is the 

 only point where the best vrestern fruit has any advantage over 

 the best eastern fruit, and as we must meet western competi- 

 tion at this point in order to avail ourselves of our natural 

 advantages of situation and flavor of fruit to the fullest extent, 

 the importance of this step taken by the Board becomes at 

 once apparent. That the practical results achieved were all 

 that was expected was apparent from the interest taken in Mr. 

 Castner's work and the immediate improvement in packing 

 shown by many of our best growers. One hundred and seventy- 

 five dollars of the appropriation was used for prizes for Massa- 

 chusetts fruit at the New England Fruit Show, and $15.35 

 contributed to the expense of preparing the Massachusetts 

 exhibit for the show. 



Poultry Premium Bounty. 

 The poultry premium bounty was distributed among the 

 incorporated poultry associations applying for such bounty in 

 accordance with the rules established bv the Board for the 



