248 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



our climate, and made it so bleak, arid and unfavorable to this 

 semi-tropical fruit that we could not grow it. "What arc the facts 

 about the removal of the forests ? As near as I can ascertain, 

 and from raj own observation, the old growths of woods which 

 have been cut, have been constantly replaced by new growths, 

 and by old pastures running up to wood, and that to-day there 

 are many more acres of woodland in Massachusetts than there 

 were thirty years ago, when peaches were grown here in favorable 

 years in abundance. And although the forest trees now arc not 

 of so large a size, but being young and vigorous, they have a 

 larger surface of leaves than the growth of trees removed. 



It does not look as though this was the cause. Peach-trees, 

 when highly manured and grown very rapidly, have always been 

 liable to suffer to some extent in the winter in Massachusetts ; 

 but who ever heard of such a thing as orchard after orchard 

 disappearing, until within the last few years, when attacked by a 

 disease known as the yellows ? And although there have been 

 many theories advanced, no one has yet been able to give a good 

 and satisfactory reason as to what causes, or what will prevent, 

 or cure a tree once infected with it. 



This disease, I am happy to say, appears to be passing away 

 from us here, as it has in the State of Delaware, and I have no 

 doubt that we shall again grow this fine fruit as formerly. I 

 found my opinion not only from the fact that my trees are 

 healthy and promising, but that within fifteen miles of this place 

 (Framingham) they have been produced for the last five years 

 with fair success and in considerable quantities for market. 

 With these few remarks about the larger fruits, I will leave them 

 to be discussed by many here who I know are so well qualified. 



But before I leave the subject, I would like to call your 

 attention to what are usually called the small fruits, the impor- 

 tance of which for home consumption and for market purposes 

 I fear has never l)een appreciated. The strawberry, raspl)erry 

 and currant are all easily grown, and ought to be abundant in 

 almost every family as an article of healthy, palatable and cool- 

 ing food, ripening as they do in the hot season of the year, when 

 other fruits are scarce. Their abundant use jji-omotes health, 

 and perhaps may keep the doctor from your door. I am en- 

 gaged to some extent in growing these fruits for market, and 

 for the purpose of satisfying myself as to the best and cheapest 



