166 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The committee believes that there is a large field open to all 

 classes of growers in the planting of dwarf apple and pear trees 

 by which fruit can be produced in two and three years from the 

 planting of the tree, instead of from eight to ten as in the case of 

 standard trees. Fruit produced on the dwarf trees in one quarter the 

 time and one-tenth the space is as good as that grown on standard 

 trees. We think also that the spraying of fruit trees, bushes, vines, 

 and plants should be very strongly impressed on the people of the 

 state, and, if necessary, this Society should take some action in 

 regard to the matter; also that pruning and trimming of orchards 

 should be brought forcibly to the notice of their owners. These 

 old orchards could be made to produce a fine quality of fruit pro- 

 vided proper care and scientific treatment were employed. 



Boston imports from other states better apples than are produced 

 here, for the reason that Massachusetts orchardists will not give 

 their orchards the careful attention that is given in other parts of 

 the country. Apples come from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and 

 California, and all sell for more per bushel than Massachusetts 

 apples do by the barrel. The apple crop in Massachusetts last 

 year was small but of better quality than usual. Summer apples 

 are being more largely grown and prove quite profitable; the best 

 varieties are Williams, Red Astrachan, and Duchess of Oldenburgh. 

 For fall apples Gravenstein, Porter, ]\IcIntosh, and Wealthy are 

 most grown; while for winter, Baldwin, Northern Spy, R.I. Green- 

 ing, Sutton, Roxbury Russett, and King are popular varieties. 



The pear crop last season was large and of very good quality. 

 For market most growers are grafting their pears to Bosc in prefer- 

 ence to Bartlett, while the amateurs still cling to the old varieties 

 which add much to our exhibitions. INIany of the old kinds are 

 excellent pears for the table but are not suitable for shipping. 



Peaches were quite abundant and of very fine quality the past 

 season. They were profitable to New England growers as the 

 crop from other states was small and not very good, except the 

 Georgia peaches which coming early do not compete with tlie 

 native fruit. 



Japanese plums were never so abundant. This crop is becom- 

 ing very popular in New England. We find new varieties are 

 being added and, owing to their freedom from black knot, they 



