No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 729 



RErORT OF THE GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE TO THE 

 STATE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYL- 

 VANIA. 



By U. C. Sxavely, ClMiniia>n. 



Again it has been allotted to me to prepare and present a report 

 upon the horticultural conditions and progress during the past year. 

 Nineteen hundred and two, like former years, had its successes and 

 failures. In some sections of the State the yields of fruits were large 

 and line, while in others the results were somewhat discouraging. 

 While during the last quarter of a century, we have made great ad- 

 vances in the increase and in the varieties of fruits grown upon 

 om' soil; while the dwellers on the farms and in the towns are sup- 

 plied almost the year round with an abundance of fruit; yet too 

 much of this supply is brought from the orchards and fields of other 

 States. It can not be gainsaid that our State has the soil, the 

 climate, and her people the intelligence to produce all the apples 

 pears, peaches, plums and sm^all fruits required by our population, 

 and yet it is a fact that we frequently go to others to supply us 

 with much that is consumed here. While our people are as in- 

 telligent as those of other States, there seems to be a lack of intelli- 

 gent direction along the line of fruit production. Of course, there 

 are many exceptions, for our State can justly lay claim to as success- 

 ful fruit growing as can be found anywhere. 



Too often land is selected without regard to its adaptability. 

 Varieties are i)lanted without any regard to their value for home 

 use or for the market. Neglect in feeding, cultivating and combat- 

 ing insects and fungi are the causes of failure. 



In fruit growing as in any other sphere of activity one must know 

 what to do and do it; one must also know what to do next. 



Workers in other parts of the country are beset with the same 

 foes as we are here in Pennsylvania, and if they handicap us it is 

 because they are more diligent in the care of their fruit trees. 



Andrew Carnegie said a short time ago in Washington, that he 

 is engaged in any one thing; producing libraries. He suceeds. To 

 succeed in the horticultural field one must concentrate mind and 

 muscle upon the work. 



One of the main causes of failure, is the lack of sympathy with 



nature. Our boys and girls are instructed in about everything 



except their environment. The three R's are supplemented by a 



long list of studies. They must know all about the rivers of Africa, 



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