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tropical fruits impt)rted from more favored states of our 

 Union or from foreign countries. 



Another serious difficulty we have to contend with is 

 the commissions we have to pay the wholesale and retail 

 dealers. Prices have decreased, but not so with the com- 

 missions. The middlemen get the lion's share of the 

 profits. The remedy is to combine and sell our own 

 produce direct to the retailer, or, better still, to the con- 

 sumer. Choice fruits always command good prices, and 

 the more of it the people have the more they want, while 

 poor fruit injures the market and a little goes a great way 

 with the consumer. 



But our greatest difficulty in growing fruit in Massachu- 

 setts is to prevent injury from insects and fungus diseases. 



In speaking of remedies to be applied. Prof. Maynard 

 repeatedly referred to the " Bordeaux Mixture" and 

 " Kerosene Emulsion," and as the mixtures will prove of 

 interest to farmers, formulas of both are herewith presented 

 as follows : 



Bordeaux mixture : Four pounds caustic lime, slacked 

 into a wash with three or four gallons of water, four lbs. 

 copper sulphate or blue vitriol, dissolved in two gallons of 

 hot water. When cold thoroughly mix together, strain 

 and dilute to fifty gallons. 



Kerosene emulsion : One-half pound bar soap dissolved 

 in a gallon of hot water ; one gallon of kerosene, mixed 

 and thoroughly churned or stirred until a butter or cheese- 

 like substance is formed. Dilute with ten to twenty-five 

 gallons of water. 



Prof. Maynard first considered the insects injurious to 

 the apple tree, viz.: The codling moth, bud moth, tent 

 caterpillar, canker worm, full web worm, apple maggot 

 and apple borer. 



The first five may be destroyed by spraying with paris 

 green, combined with the Bordeaux mixture. Apply with 

 spraying pump, with vermosel nozzle. Make the first ap- 

 plication as soon as the leaves begin to unfold, then at in- 



