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worthy a place in the statistics of our industry ; now our 

 exports amount to more than six hundred millions of dollars 

 annually. Of apples alone, we exported last year one million 

 three hundred thousands in value, and of canned fruits nearly 

 one million. As regards the soft fruits, strawberries and 

 raspberries, I do not remember to have seen cultivated varieties 

 until long after reaching adult age. Now we have of straw- 

 berries alone cultivated in gardens, more than three hundred 

 and fifty distinct varieties. Of grapes we formerly had none 

 but those which grew wild in the swamps ; now we have about 

 one hundred varieties under cultivation, and grape culture is 

 an industry of immense importance. We are rapidly ap- 

 proaching a time when this country will be the greatest wine 

 producing region in the world. Of pears we have now more 

 than eight hundred and ninety varieties, and on many farms 

 and in many gardens this noble fruit is grown in such abun- 

 dance as to become almost a waste product. Our county of 

 Essex is peculiarly adapted for fruit growing, and it has 

 become a source of considerable revenue to farmers. We have 

 not been able to supply our markets with peaches in late years, 

 but I confidently believe that we have entered upon a cycle of 

 time when this fruit will not continue to fail us. Disease in 

 the tree and fruit, caused perhaps by insects, is a greater 

 obstacle to contend with than climate. Careful observation 

 extended over many years leads me to conclude that the 

 failure of the peach crop has not been due to our severe 

 winters. Fruits manifestly are subject to laws of periodicity; 

 that is, they have cycles of barrenness and great productive- 

 ness, and it is probable the pear is now near the end of a 

 cycle of extreme over production, and the peach is entering 

 upon one of generous production. The wide spread leaf 



