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MASSACHUSETTS 



MATRICAKIA 



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1376. Massachusetts. 



Showius some ot the leading liurLieulturiil ure;is. 



in seasons of an unusual crop in tlie state, large quanti- 

 ties of apples from other states are shipped iutu our mar- 

 kets, because in many cases they are of superior size and 

 beauty. Pears are shipped into our markets from the 

 southern states and California, and as the market for 

 this fruit is limited, prices often rule very low. Eastern 

 Massachusetts is admirably adapted to pear-growing. 



Peach trees can be grown up to about ten to fifteen 

 years of age when given the proper attention, but the fruit 

 buds are frequently killed in the winter, and not more 

 than one crop maybe produced in three years. However, 

 even under these conditions, when the trees are planted 

 on ratheriight lan<l and well cared for, one crop in three 

 years is often more profitable than most other fruit or 

 vegetable crops. The fruit on trees properly cared for 

 is large, of the finest color and quality, and the fresh, 

 ripe condition in which tiie crower can put it into the 

 local markets makes it quickly salable at the highest 

 prices. 



Plums are not grown to a great extent, the larger 

 markets being supplied chietly by New York and Cali- 

 fornia. Few orchards remain productive longer than ten 

 or twelve years, on account of the l)lack-knot, leaf-blight 

 and brown-rot. Within the past four or five years Japa- 

 nese plums have been largely planted, but have borne 

 little fruit up to this time, so that their status in the 

 market is not fully established. 



The cherry, owing to the attack of the black aphis, the 

 plum curculio and browu-rtd, is very little grown as an 

 orchard fruit. A few vigorous and productive trees 

 may be seen here and there t»y the roadside, al>out old 

 honu'steads or on the lawn, where they live longer and 

 attain greater size than when grown under a high state 

 of cultivation in the garden or orchard, because of the 

 fact that when grown too rapidly the trunks crack on 

 the south side and the trees soon die. Our markets 

 are largely supplied with cherries from California, New 

 York and other states. 



Small fruits are more grown and more nearly supply 

 local miirkets than do the large fruits. The supfdy of 

 very early fruit comes from the southern states of the 

 country, but home-grown fruit is so much superior iu 

 quality that it sells at reasonable prices, notwithstand- 

 ing prices may have been very much reduced iiy an over- 

 supply of the southern product. Of the smaller fruits, 

 grapes are profitable mostly when grown on rather light 

 land and at high elevations with a southern exposure. 

 The cliief obstacles to success are early frosts in the 

 fall and late frosts in the spring. Currants are grown 

 to a considerable extent, almost every garden conlain- 

 ing more or less currant bushes for home supply, while 

 m;iny large plantations may be found near every large 

 town or city. The conditions of success are a rather 

 moist, rich soil, with the bashes trained into a very 

 compact form and pruned so that the fruit will bo 

 borne on wood thnt is not over three or four yenrs 

 old. Gooseberries are little grown, although the de- 

 mand is rather on the increase. The more hardy kinds 

 can be as easily grown as the currant, while the European 



sorts and their hybriils, many of them, require 

 much care and skill. Like the currant, the black- 

 berry is largely grown for home use, and also 

 for market. It succeeds upon a great variety of 

 soils, can be grown cheaply and sells at good 

 prices. Few plantations will bo profitable on the 

 same land more than from five to seven years un- 

 less the soil is strong and rich. It is the practice 

 of most growers to plant a new lot every six or 

 seven years. The red raspberry is the most pop- 

 ular of the bush fruits, and when successfully 

 grown is the most profitable. For success it re- 

 quires a deep sandy loam, retentive of moisture, 

 but plantations must be renewed after six or eight 

 years' growth on one piece of land. The black- 

 cap raspberry lias found less and less of favor 

 each year with our people, and can only be sold 

 at very low prices in our city markets. 



The business of market-gardening has made 

 rapid strides in the state in the past ten years, and 

 the demand for choice vegetables continues more 

 or less the year round. Even in the matter of 

 competition with vegetables from the South dur- 

 ing the winter, our local growers have reached a 

 good degree of success. In almost every part of the 

 state may be found forcing-houses for the growlh of 

 lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, rhubarb, asparagus, etc., 

 and notwithstanding the cost of such structures and 

 the fuel to keep up the necessary heat, the increase in 

 the uunilier of forcing houses within the past two years 

 is a certain indication that the business is profitiible. 



It is perhaps in the growth of cut-dowers and house 

 and decorative plants that this state excels in horticul- 

 ture. As a rule, the largest establishments of this kind 

 are located near the large cities, though in some cases 

 they may be found in some of the more rural towns. 

 The horticulturists of Massachusetts do not understand 

 their advantages in having the best markets in the world 

 at their doors, and a great variety of soils suitable for 

 the growth of many of the varied crops. By persistent 

 effort and superior skill they could supply these markets 

 largely, and thus retain within the state murh of the 

 wealth that now goes outside to pay for the produce that 

 could be raised at home. g_ rj^ jxaynakd. 



In commercial horticulture, Massachusetts is not the 

 equal of some other states, although its market-garden- 

 ing and floricultural interests are large, but its influence 

 on the horticulture of the country is more important 

 than acres and tonnage. The best hortiiMilture is that 

 which develops under diSieulties, because it develops 

 the man. The htve of the country and attachment to its 

 owm soil are strong in Massachusetts. Individuality has 

 full course. It is a land of home-loving people. It has 

 developed the amateur horticulturist to perfection,— 

 the person who grows the plant and dresses the soil for 

 the very love of it. There are many large collections of 

 choice plants, and great numbers of artistic, compact and 

 tidy garden-homes. There is keen appreciation of the 

 merit of well-grown things. The influence of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Horticultural Society has been incalcuhible. 

 Since 1829 it has had its stated discussions, held its pe- 

 riodical shows, collected its library and records. It is a 

 center of education and culture. The establishment of 

 Mt. Auburn cemetery in l.S;U was 1he beginning of the 

 movement in this country for cemeteries in the open as 

 distinguished from the churchyard. l. h. B. 



MASSANGEA comprises one species f if. nnisaica, 

 Morr. ), which is now referred toGuzmania, G. musaica, 

 Mez. It is not known to be in the Amer. trade, although 

 it is cult, in the Old World. It is from Colombia. It is 

 stemless. with 20 or less broad-strap-shnped, entire-edged 

 Ivs., which are marked transversely with purple, and a 

 head of small fls. (corolla siiorter than calyx) which are 

 covered l)y very showy red bracts. B.]\l. 007.1. l.H. 

 24:2r»8. -Known also as a Tillandsia, Billbergia, Cara- 

 guata and Vriesea. 



MAST. Ensrlish name for beechnuts; American for 



any woods-nuts eaten by swine. 



MATRICARIA {matfr, mother, from its use in dis- 

 eases). C'niipositd'. From Chrysanthemum it differs 

 mostly in the akenes, which areU-5-ribbed on the interior 



