THE XIXETEEXTH AXXUAL MEETING. 99 



number of . bushels produced and value received from tlie fruit. The 

 reason for this is because of the small bearing area. AVith the exception 

 of a very few old trees or orchards, nearly all the orchards to which I shall 

 refer are quite young and not in full bearing age, being only from six to 

 twelve jears old. 



"During the years 1873 and 1874 we had very heavy crops in some few 

 bearing orchards, and the trees shed their foliage before the fruit was ripe, 

 leaving only the fruit upon the trees to ripen, which did not mature or 

 ripen and color up in good shape. The trees having overborne, (shed- 

 ding of the leaves, prematurely, lessening the vitality of the trees) during 

 the severe cold winters which followed those seasons of 1873 and 1874, 

 nearly all the trees that were thus aifected and stood on cold and wet 

 ground were killed out. But trees or orchards that were not overloaded 

 and held their foliage and were on elevated ground, came through these 

 severe winters, are all alive to-day and in good bearing condition. 



"As to the prodviction of fruit, or profit there is in a good pluui orchard, 

 I can not do the matter better justice than to submit the account and sales 

 of fruit of the leading plum orchards in the county during the last three 

 years, giving the number of bushels of fruit produced and the amount of 

 profit received for the same: 



"Orchard No. 1, containing 70 bearing trees, from 8 to 15 years old 

 from setting — one tree being twenty years old, and having produced from 

 860 to s75 worth of fruit or net profit during these 20 years. Said orchard 

 has produced in 



1887 122 bushels, sold at 8-3.20 per bushel, net S390 



1888 80 bushels, sold at 3.00 per bushel net 240 



1889 214 bushels, sold at 2.00 perbushel.net 225 



31G $8.58 



"Orchard No. 2, containing 60 bearing trees from 12 to 18 years old. 

 This orchard has produced seven good paying crops in succession. 



1887 130 bushels, sold at .32.3.5 per bushel, net S292 



1888 130 bushels, sold at 1.80 per bushel, net 234 



1889 100 bushels, sold at 1.80 perbushel.net 180 



"Orchard No. 3, containing 70 bearing trees from 6 to 10 years old, 

 mostly coming into bearing, produced in 



1886 37 bushels, sold at 82.25 per bushel, net 8 83 



1887 83 bushels, sold at 2.45 per bushel, net 208 



1S89 55 bushels, sold at 2.09 per bushel, net 143 



" Orchard No. 4, containing 180 trees, being 8 years old, has produced 

 in three years 447 bushels. Proceeds received from same, J3844. 



"Orchard No. 5, containing 110 trees, being 10 to 15 years, some few 

 trees being 24 years old, and having produced not less than 15 paying 

 crops ; has produced in three years 472 bushels ; amount received, 'S787. 



" Orchard No. 6, containing 20 bearing trees, being planted 12 years, and 

 has produced during the last three vears 133 bushels ; amount received, 

 S266. 



" The value or profit of a good plum orchard dejDends somewhat on the 

 varieties, the seasons, and markets, just in accordance to all other fruits, as 

 some seasons the fruit will sell from SI to S3 per bushel in the market. 



"But to put the subject in flattering figures, or to more fully illus- 



