156 



wise choice in regard to the branches he shall pursue, and 

 intelligent direction of his labors. It puts a premium upon 

 energy, pluck and thrift. It makes the farmer a specialist, 

 and puts the stamp of his individuality upon his product. 



The 85th Institute, and sixth of the season, was held in 

 Odd Fellows' Hall, No. Andover, Friday, March 4, 1892, 

 the subject for the morning being " Fruits; the Best Varie- 

 ties and the Best Methods of Cultivation," the speaker 

 being Mr. J. H. Hale of South Glastonbury, Conn. 



Mr. Hale is a practical fruit grower, and in company with 

 his brother, owns one of the best, if not the best fruit farms 

 in Connecticut. Mr. tiale was born on a New England 

 farm, and necessity compelled him to stay there until he be- 

 came of age, when as U. S. census agent in the last census, 

 he had a chance to travel all over the United States, after 

 which he returned to New England, where he was glad to 

 make it his liome, and considers it the most desirable place 

 in the country for a young man to make his home. In his 

 travels he has noticed that horticulture is drifting into 

 specialties. Formerly Delaware and New Jersey were the 

 peach-producing states, but extensive orchards are now be- 

 ing set in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern 

 Missouri. Pears, peaches and grapes are being extensive- 

 ly planted in Colorado, apples in Missouri, and prunes In 

 Oregon. California produces immense quantities of fruits 

 which can be dried and shipped East. 



Certain climatic conditions, however, enable New Eng- 

 land to produce better fruit than can be grown anywhere 

 else in the United States. Speaking of the apple, he said 

 that he believed the difficulty with our New England far- 

 mers was that they didn't cultivate it on a sufficiently large 

 scale. 



Our apple trees are stimulated for a year or two, and 

 then allowed to go back. There is not sufficient care taken 

 of them to make .them profitable. Letting pruning go back 

 for a time, and then almost murdering the tree, and seldom 

 if ever spraying them, did not inure to possible great pro- 



