52 . BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



very willing to accept the courtesy whicli is tendered me this 

 evening, of occupying the chair, and to aid, with such ability 

 as I have, in carrying forward the objects of the meeting. 



I have now great pleasure in introducing to you my dear 

 friend and associate, with whom I have labored for many years, 

 the highly distinguished President of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, an institution which is not surpassed in ability 

 by any on this continent, and I believe I may say, from the 

 experience of the past year in travelling abroad, that it is not 

 surpassed in character, ability and usefulness by any similar 

 institution in foreign lands. I beg to introduce to you Mr. 

 James F. C. Hyde, who is not only able to preach, but, to my 

 personal knowledge, has practised what he will preach to you. 



ADDRESS OF J. F. C. HYDE, Esq. 



The subject of which we shall venture to speak to-night, is 

 one on which volumes have been written by the ablest horticul- 

 turists of the land — one that is now attracting the attention of 

 thousands throughout the country, from the State that first 

 greets the rising sun on the east, to the young and flourishing 

 state on the far-off shores of the Pacific. Within the recollec- 

 tion of those in mature life, there were but few varieties of 

 apples, and fewer of pears, with some peaches, while little or no 

 attention was paid to the cultivation of strawberries, grapes, 

 raspberries, blackberries and other small fruits. 



The Roxbury Russet, Seaver Sweet, Porter, and later the 

 Baldwin, were the prominent apples, while the Orange, St. 

 Michael and St. Germain, were the leading pears. We well 

 remember that thirty years ago the demand for such fruit as 

 was then raised was quite limited, except, possibly, for apples, 

 and those sold at low prices. 



But what a change has taken place ! To-day, as we look over 

 a vast country north, cast, south or west, we see large and 

 flourishing orchards of apple, pear, peach and cherry, besides 

 thousands if not millions of acres devoted to the growing of 

 the small fruits. 



Once, the fruit-growers relied solely on the home market, and 

 transported their fruit in wagons from the orchard or field to 

 the village or city within a convenient distance ; now, with the 



