I30 



followed Mr. Ware's paper, which at times varied consid- 

 erably from the subject, but brought many intelligent 

 ideas which were interesting and instructive. 



The third Institute of the season was held at Parker 

 Hall, Newbury, Friday, Feb. 16, 1894. President Apple- 

 ton presided, and after a few brief remarks concerning the 

 town of Newbury, giving a summary of its characteristics^ 

 its topography, history, etc., he introduced Prof. S. T. 

 Maynard of the State Agricultural College, as the speaker 

 of the morning, who took for his subject " Small Fruits, 

 and the Insects and Fungus Diseases Attacking Them." 



He spoke of the conditions of fruit-growing in Massa- 

 chusetts, which has greatly changed in many ways. Much 

 larger areas are now devoted to the culture of fruits, es- 

 pecially small fruits, than formerly. This fact is well 

 demonstrated by the statistics of fruit cultivation from 

 1875 to 1885. In 1875, 1,868,204 apple trees in the state, 

 12,000 cherry trees, 231,290 pear trees, 82,800 peach trees, 

 214,300 grapevmes. In 1885, there were 2,507,350 apple 

 trees, 33,643 cherry trees, 358,400 pear trees, 276,846 peach 

 trees, 357,000 grajjevines. Of strawberries there were 

 1,156,801 quarts raised in 1875, against 3,930,710 quarts 

 in 1885. The value of the product in 1875 was $214,940, 

 or 18 1-2 cents a quart ; and in 1885, $406,895, or 11 cents 

 a quart. 



With the increased production of fruits comes a larger 

 yield per acre, while improved methods lessen the cost. 

 New and more productive varieties, too, give a better qual- 

 ity than heretofore. But with all the progress, there are 

 many causes affecting the certainty of the crops, and it is 

 only by the greatest skill and constant attention that profit- 

 able crops can be grown. 



But with greater production, prices diminish ; but not 

 only prices, but the numerous insects and fungus growths 

 have to be contended with, and also the large amount of 



