xii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



mild damp weather of October caused heavy losses in apples 

 not in cold storage, and even those in cold storage were af- 

 fected to a considerable extent. There is still a very wide 

 interest in apple culture, and many are going into the busi- 

 ness in a large way. Still, we have an abundance of splen- 

 did apple land in the State, and ample opportunity to 

 enlarge. One pressing need of the apple situation is that 

 of apple standards or grades, and your secretary believes 

 that our farmers will never get satisfactory returns for apples 

 until a standard is adopted both for barrels and for boxes. 

 It is a mistake for growers to pack apples of any but fancy 

 grades in boxes, for the public has come to believe that 

 the box is an assurance of quality, and we must not in any 

 way injure that impression. The adoption of the Canadian 

 or Maine law, both as to barrels and boxes, would materially 

 help the apple situation in this State. 



A great deal has been said regarding the overpl anting of 

 the apple, but there does not seem to be much danger of this, 

 for the demand for good apples is ever increasing, while the 

 multiplying army of insects and diseases for the orchardist 

 to fight is likely to quickly eliminate the untrained man 

 who thinks he can grow apples by sitting in his office and 

 depending upon others to do the work. ]^o form of agi'i- 

 culture requires so careful, ceaseless attention as the growing 

 of good apples, and there will always be a profit in the busi- 

 ness for the skilled and painstaking orchardist. 



The pear crop of the State was very large this year, and 

 quite generally of good quality, although much of the fruit 

 was small, oMdng chiefly to overbearing. In 1912 there wore 

 practically no pears in Massachusetts, and after a year's rest 

 the trees attempted to do two years' work in one. Prices 

 were satisfactory on the whole, and particularly for the late 

 fall and best winter varieties, including the Bosc, Anjoit, 

 Dana's Hovey and Sheldon. 



In spite of the late frosts, peaches were abundant" and in 

 most cases of very high quality. Our State has probably 

 never raised better peaches than it did this year, and as most 

 of them were sold locally, good prices were realized. While 



