No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. ix 



profit. We must, however, admit that when we have a 

 bountiful crop much of the fruit is undersized by reason of 

 over-bearing, that insects injure a large proportion, that 

 usually less care is used in packing, that the greater part of 

 the crop is thrown upon the market as soon as it is harvested. 

 The natural result is an over-supply of ordinary fruit, and 

 low prices. Our State is in the natural apple belt, and can 

 produce as fine fruit as can be grown in any section. The 

 market will always take a reasonable amount of the finest 

 fruit at fair prices. We must take better care of our trees, 

 fertilize our orchards, destroy the insects by spraying, thin 

 the fruit severely, that size and good color may be attained. 

 Exercise the utmost care in picking, sorting and packing, 

 and hold a large part of every bountiful crop in cold storage 

 until the market will absorb it. Simple and inexpensive 

 cold-storage houses can be provided within the means of 

 most fruit growers, and the fruit can be kept in fine con- 

 dition with little waste even until late in spring. In this 

 connection reference is made to pages 232 and 339 of this 

 volume. 



The cranberry crop was not as remunerative as usual, 

 partly because of the low prices and partly because of the 

 abundance of the apple crop. No doubt the stagnation in 

 business and the ' ' hard times " have been a large factor in 

 causing the low prices that rule not only for farm crops but 

 for manufactured articles as well. 



Sixty-one of the 120 correspondents making returns No- 

 vember 1 considered hay to have been among the most prof- 

 itable crops ; 28, corn; 14, potatoes ; 9, milk; 9, cabbages ; 

 6, tobacco; 6, sweet corn ; 5, strawberries; 5, cranberries; 

 4, asparagus ; 4, apples ; 3, oats ; 3, tomatoes, etc. Fifty- 

 five correspondents gave potatoes as among the least profit- 

 able crops; 36, apples; 11, corn; 4, squashes; 4, onions; 

 3, turnips ; 3, cranberries, etc. 



Massachusetts Weather, 1896. 



[Compiled from data furnished by the New England Weather Service.] 



January opened cold, and an unusually sharp cold wave 

 prevailed from the 4th to the 8th. Peach buds were almost 

 entirely killed and some damage was done to raspberries and 



