34 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



from which the apples Avere this year sold at §3.50 per barrel tree 

 run. I cannot give statistics of the yield but it was excellent and 

 at the price received must have given a handsome income. 



And lastly, if I may be permitted to draw on my Nova Scotia 

 experience which I think is legitimate, a few years ago their Fruit 

 Growers' Association gathered some statistics as to crops and 

 returns from bearing apple orchards and the net returns from ten 

 of the best orchards in the province ranged from 10% to 20% on a 

 valuation of $1000 per acre, for a period of five years. I am often 

 met with the objection, when I advocate orcharding in ^Nlassachu- 

 setts, that "we can't afford to go into it, our land is too valuable." 

 Now, I doubt if much of our farming land is worth $1000.00 per 

 acre except trucking land near large cities, and I certainly doubt 

 if much of it gives 10% on such a valuation. 



]May I suggest, in closing, some of the elements which it seems 

 to me enter into the success of any orchard ? I mean the elements 

 which the owner of the orchard can control. And the first, and I 

 am almost inclined to think the most important of all, is to go into it 

 on a reasonably extensive scale. INIake your operations large 

 enough so that you will take pride in them. I do not believe that 

 the importance of this factor is half appreciated. No man can 

 wax enthusiastic over a dozen or two Baldwin trees set in a back 

 lot. But few men can fail to become enthusiastic over a half- 

 dozen acres of orchard which is yielding a revenue of $500.00 per 

 acre. 



I do not consider the soil and site for an apple orchard matters 

 of extreme importance, for apples will grow in almost any soil 

 and on almost any slope; though poorly drained soil and windy 

 locations are certainly to be avoided. With other fruits than the 

 apple these are matters of more importance. 



But I do consider that the question of varieties is an all-important 

 one. Unfortunately it is a good deal of a personal question but I 

 should like to suggest a few general considerations which I think 

 will apply in all cases. 



1st. Be satisfied with a reasonable number of varieties. If 

 one is catering to a special market it may be desirable to grow eight 

 or ten sorts but this I should consider the limit, while for the general 

 market two or three is all that should be set. 



