REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 



205 



has been ploughed and harrowed, fertilized with manure, lime, and 

 wood ashes, and green crops of buckwheat and clover have been 

 turned under to enrich the soil; all of which has wrought a won- 

 derful transformation and this year from the same trees that four 

 years ago produced nothing but worthless apples over $1500 worth 

 of really good fruit was taken. Part of the orchard is cultivated 

 by the use of hogs, that not only work over the ground but in 

 eating the wormy apples prevent the increase of the codling moth 

 and railroad worm. 



Anyone who says that fruit farming is not possible in Massachu- 

 setts should pay a visit to any one of these four orchards and see 

 what results can be obtained with good care and scientific treatment. 



Such orchards as these if more numerously scattered through the 

 state would be a great inducement for others to take up orcharding 

 as a business, and would not only bring material reward to the 

 planter but would add greatly to the beauty of the state. 



It seems to your committee that perhaps some of the money of 

 the Society could be used to good advantage in the further encourage- 

 ment of orcharding and fruit planting in Massachusetts. 



Market prices for the year have ruled as follows (wholesale): 

 Strawberries, early, from 15 to 35 cts. per quart. 



Some of the newer fruits which seem to be adapted to our climate 

 and soil and also combine many desirable qualities are Barrymore 

 strawberry, Perfection currant, Herbert raspberry, Ward black- 

 berry, and Carman peach. Indeed, this last named fruit bids 

 fair to solve the peach question for it is one of the very few varieties 



