HORTICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES OF CONNECTICUT 171 



grow and produce freely all over the state, and all local 

 markets are abundantly supplied in season. 



Grapes can be grown successfully all over the state, 

 except on the highest and coldest hills ; and on the sandy 

 plains and warm, rocky hillsides all the best standard 

 varieties can be produced in perfection. There are a 

 number of small vineyards in district No. i, and home- 

 grown grapes sell for double the price of those coming 

 from the outside ; yet, on the whole, the grape industry is 

 but lightly thought of. 



' Pears thrive and fruit well except on the lighter lands, 

 and nearly every home garden has from one to half a dozen 

 trees. There are a few small commercial orchards in dis- 

 trict No. I, Bartlett and Clapp being most largely grown at 

 Hartford and the adjoining towns. On the west side of the 

 river the Bosc is produced in its highest perfection. 



Cherries have been steadily failing in the state for 

 twenty-five years past ; not enough for home supply are 

 grown. Newly planted trees soon die out, and there is a 

 general discouragement. They seem to do best in the 

 vicinity of Middletown and Meriden, and the few commer- 

 cial orchards there are quite profitable. 



Quinces are grown all over the state for home supply, 

 but thrive best along the sound shore, where there are a 

 large number of small commercial orchards. 



Strawberries are very largely grown, both for home and 

 outside markets, mostly in medium matted rows, with an 

 average yield of 80 to 90 bushels per acre. Some culti- 

 vators, who follow the hill system or grow in narrow, 

 thinly matted rows, secure 150 or more bushels per acre. 

 A number of the berry farmers have systems of irrigation 

 which add greatly to the surety of the crop, besides 

 increasing the size and appearance of the fruit. The roll- 

 ing character of the country and vast number of small 

 streams abundantly supplied with water make it possible, 

 at moderate expense, to irrigate many thousands of acres 

 in this state, and the time is not far distant when the 

 streams of Connecticut will be more valuable to her 

 horticulturists than they ever were to her manufacturers in 

 the old days of abundant small factories and water-wheels. 



