192 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



President Piatt then presented a paper on the Outlook for 

 Fruit Culture in Connecticut, which is reproduced here in full. 



Conditions and Outlook for Profitable Fruit Culture in Con- 

 necticut. 



By N. S. Piatt of New Haven. 



Well, what is the matter? Is anything the matter with our 

 climate? Does it kill out our apple and cherry trees by the 

 wholesale in the winter like it does in some parts of our country? 

 Are we obliged to plant ironclad varieties to escape the winter's 

 cold ? After spring is well along, with sap rising fast and blos- 

 soms opening, are we likely to have freezing temperature and 

 wipe out the labor of years and our hopes alike? Do wx have 

 hot monsoon winds drawing out moisture from leaf and plant 

 and tree faster than roots can supply it? 



Other districts have these troubles, but we .do not. If we lose 

 a tree or a few trees by winter's cold we think it unusual. We 

 are not obliged to plant ironclad varieties, which are usually 

 inferior, but may plant the best without hesitation. Spring 

 does not begin here so early as to run our trees into great 

 danger of being frozen up afterwards. 



Our climate is about right, I think, for fruit growing. It is 

 as reliable as any and more reliable than most. We can grow 

 successfully almost all fruits belonging to the temperate zone. 

 But W'C started with the question as to its being profitable. 



We can grow them successfully and profitably, provided the 

 market will take them and pay us enough, and if we can get 

 them to market cheaply. 



Some fruits the markets delight. to receive and are slow to 

 get tired of, and it sometimes seems as if they could never get 

 enough. Berries and peaches are of this class, the demand 

 increasing steadily year by year. The cities will have them if 

 thev can get them. Our cheap lands and nearness to markets 

 put" us in good position to supply the New England towns. 

 When one can get pickers to gather the berries, the other con- 

 ditions necessary, namely, land, fertilizers, etc., can usually be 

 found readily enough, and one need not fear to grow the berries 

 in just as large quantities as he is fitted to take care of. Along 



