GENERAL DISCUSSION ON FRUIT. 



OPENED BY E. \V. WOOD, WEST NEWTON, MASS. 



Saturday, Januarj? 28, 1905. 



A general discussion of the subject of the cultivation of fruit 

 was held at Horticultural Hall today. James H. Bowditch, of 

 the Committee on Lectures, presided and introduced as the first 

 speaker K. W. Wood of West NeAvton, a member of the fruit 

 committee of the Society for twenty-live years. Mr. Wood 

 spoke in part as follows : 



The subject of today's discussion is one in which this Society 

 has alwa^'s taken an active interest and it has always been an 

 important feature in its work. The original organization of the 

 Society was due to tlie fruit growei-s of Boston and its suburbs. 



The two leading fruits of New^ England are unquestiona1)ly the 

 apple and the pear, and in no part of the world can the apple be 

 grown more successfully than in New England. It is Avell 

 known that the quality of this fruit improves in flavor and color 

 as we go north, and Maine grown Baldwins bring a higher price 

 than those grown in Massachusetts or further south. We are 

 not keeping uj) with the Maine growers in the care and improve- 

 ment of our orchards and in packing for the market. 



Western grown apples do not have the keeping properties of 

 those grown in this section of the country. There they have no 

 apples that will keep all through the winter as do ours in New 

 England where we may have them continually from August to 

 June. 



There seems to be a tendency towards the evening up of the 

 apple crop by a more uniform production which if continued 

 will eliminate the off year and enable our orchards to produce a 

 crop every year. 



In growing for the market it is important to know what to 



