38 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



minous crops, and then add basic slag or lime to keep your 

 soil from becoming sour. 



Thin your bearing trees. It is not until lately tliat we have 

 come to realize how essential this is as an orchard practice. 

 Begin the latter part of June, when the fruits are about the 

 size of walnuts ; pick oif all wormy or inferior fruits ; see to 

 it that the trees can carry their load. If one thinning is not 

 sufficient, keep at it. This is the way that the westerner gTows 

 85 to 90 per cent of extra fancy box fruit. It is the best 

 paying proposition in fruit growing that I know of, and yet 

 one of the least practiced. New England fruit should be 

 picked with care, and always placed in boxes, not barrels. 

 The westerner considers twenty-five boxes a good day's work ; 

 we generally require considerably more. There is no question 

 in my mind, commission men to the contrary, but that we 

 should try to establish a box trade for our best grades of fruit, 

 pack it with extreme care, wraj) the fruit, and label it as to 

 grade, number of apples, variety and name of grower. The 

 westerners use the grades, extra fancy, fancy and choice ; with 

 us only the first two should be placed in boxes, the poorer 

 grades in barrels. 



Of course, this change cannot all be made at once ; certain 

 trade will still require first-class fruit in barrels, and must be 

 catered to. In time, however, I look to see all our fancy 

 higher quality fruit in boxes, for the simple reason that the 

 consumer demands it. There is less chance for deceit, and 

 it is a much more convenient size to handle. 



I have spoken principally of the apple, because it is the 

 king of fruits, all points considered. There are just as good 

 chances in Xew England cultivating the peach, pear, quince, 

 sour cherries, grape and many small fruits if attention is 

 given to location. What has been said about the apple in 

 many respects applies to these others as well. This is one of 

 the strong points about ISTew England fruit-growing possi- 

 bilities, — that its opportunities are not confined to the culti- 

 vation of one fruit alone, — for within its boundaries one 

 may find suitable places to grow almost any fruit that will 

 grow in the temperate zone, according to one's preferences 

 and capabilities. There are some who fear the small grower 



