No. 4.] FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 347 



The next place visited was that of Mr. Geo. Wright, 

 where was found a vineyard containing a greater number of 

 varieties than Mr. Wheeler's, and trained in a slightly differ- 

 ent manner. The vineyard was in a very high state of cul- 

 tivation, and a large crop of fruit was nearly ready for 

 market, — some had already been shipped. Mr. Wright 

 has practised girdling for several years, although his vine- 

 yard is situated on much higher land than Mr. Wheeler's, 

 but he finds it necessary to girdle to hasten the ripening of 

 the fruit, so as to get it into the markets before the glut from 

 the New York State shipments. 



The party was then driven to the home of Mr. Chas. 

 Prescott, where a lunch was to be provided under the shade 

 of his beautiful ornamental trees. Before the dinner call 

 was sounded some of the party inspected Mr. Prescott's 

 well-kept grounds. The especially attractive features were 

 the extensive asparagus field and the blackberry ])lantation. 

 Mr. Prescott reported remarkable success in keeping down 

 the asparagus beetle by placing coops of chickens at frequent 

 intervals about the fields. 



After dinner short speeches were made by several mem- 

 bers of the association and invited guests. The party w^as 

 then driven to the historic North Bridge, where the shot was 

 fired that was heard round the world. The barges were 

 drawn up around the statue of the " minute man," and a 

 brief account of the events of that historic place given to 

 the company. From the bridge the party was driven to the 

 home of Mr. W. H. Hunt, where further refreshments were 

 offered, and, after viewing the beautifully located lands W'ith 

 their al)undant crops from the barges, they proceeded back 

 through the main street of this historic town, passing the 

 *'01d Manse," the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the 

 "House of Seven Gables," the "School of Philosophy," 

 the home of the late John B. Moore and that of the father 

 of the American grape industry, — the late Ephraim W. 

 Bull, the originator of the Concord grape. Here the party 

 dismounted, and, after inspecting the place, grouped them- 

 selves about the original Concord vine, and were photo- 

 graphed. 



The company then proceeded to the home of our vice- 



