No. 6. DKPAKT.MENT OF AGRICULTURE. 645 



Tin: SAN JOSK .SCALE AND METHODS FOK ITS DESTKUC- 



TION. 



Y I'ROK. Geo. li. At\vooi>, Alhanu, N. \. 



According to tbe Ihiited Slates Census of 1890 there were in the 

 State of I'enusylvauia 11,193,417 fruit trees, while in 1900 there were 

 17,844,269, an increase of 59.4 per cent, in the decade. 



The number of plum and prune trees increased nearly tivefold, 

 and the number of peach, pear and cherry trees about threefold. 

 Apple trees increased in the ten years from 9,097,700 to 11,774,211. 

 The increases mentioned were quite evenly distributed throughout 

 the State. 



Of the total number in 1900, GO per cent, were apple trees; 19.7 

 per cent, peach trees; 5.4 per cent, cherry trees; 4.6 per cent, pear 

 trees; 4.3 per cent, unclassified. The hinderances to the profitable 

 and full development of orchard fruits are many. They consist of 

 both insect and fungus pests. The annual loss to the agricultural 

 crops of the country caused by insects is estimated at 10 per cent, of 

 the product, and those who are best informed and who are cai)able 

 of making an estimate of the losses caused by fungus parasites gen- 

 erally estimate the losses at even more than the losses caused by in- 

 sects. Twenty per cent, at least of the fruit crop of this State is 

 annually lost from causes that are to a large extent preventable. 



The production of orchard fruits in Pennsylvania, according to 

 the latest reliable reports,' the United States Census of 1900, 

 amounted to |7,976,464; small fruits, |1,268,827; nursery products, 

 1541,032; plants and flowers, .|2,246,075; total, |12,032,.398. 



Two and one-half to three millions annual loss is an flmount well 

 worth an attempt to save. The work of your State Board of Agri- 

 culture and of 3'our Experiment Station demonstrates in a very 

 clear manner hovv it may be done. It is now "up to" the practical 

 fruit grower to apply the remedies and receive the rewards. 



Insect enemies may be divided into two classes (1) those that 

 destroy the foliage and fruit, and (2) those that are called danger- 

 ously injurious and involve the life of the trees and plants that they 

 infest. The fungus diseases that are a menace to fruit growing are 

 the parasitic vegetable growths that destroy the foliage, retard the 

 full development of the fruit, deface its appearance and cause pre- 

 mature decay. Other losses are produced by causes yet quite ob- 

 scure. 



35— G— 1903 



