142 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



large numbers as ever before, except, perhaps, in one or two 

 instances, and the "specimens have not often been excelled. I 

 think the lot of twenty varieties, presented by E. H. Warren, of 

 Chelmsford, was fully equal to any previous exhibition made by 

 him within my recollection. The same is true of an Acton 

 gentleman's, whose name has slipped my mind. Some of the 

 single dishes did not contain so large and fine specimens as has 

 been witnessed of the same varieties before. For instance, the 

 Williams and Porters were inferior to former displays ; while 

 the Foundling, Lyscom, Hubbardston and others were remark- 

 ably large and fine. From observations in my own orchard, 

 prior to the day of exhibition at Concord, I had arrived at this 

 conclusion, viz. : that some varieties of apples are more affected 

 by drought than others. 



The past, season, while the Lyscom, Hubbardston and others, 

 grew large, in no respect to any perceptible degree pinched by a 

 lack of moisture, — the same being true of the Russet Sweet, the 

 trees of which variety were quite full of 'large and fair speci- 

 mens, — the Williams, Porter, and Roxbury Russet were far 

 below, in point of size, what we have before witnessed. There 

 are exceptional cases no doubt. That apples and pears or 

 grapes and apples should be affected unlike, or in different 

 degrees by drought, does not surprise me, while the difference 

 in the same family does puzzle me a little. I trust there are 

 persons who may be able to explain the phenomenon, but I am 

 not. 



Another, and it may be, a more important question arises 

 in the minds of fruit cultivators, which is this : how shall we, or 

 how can we prevent the ravages of the core-worm and other 

 pests which annoy us ? In my experience I have found it more 

 easy to ask questions than to answer them. The practice of 

 picking up apples and other fruits which fall prematurely from 

 the trees, and feeding the same to swine or other animals, or 

 treating in any way which shall destroy the worms therein con- 

 tained has been, I think, wisely recommended as a means of 

 ■diminishing the number ; yet, where the experiment has been 

 tried, the results have not proved satisfactory to a degree that 

 has stimulated the experimenters to renewed and persistent 

 trials. Whole neighborhoods should take hold of the matter 

 right earnestly, in order to arrive at favorable results. 



