738 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



rot, nor did the twigs die.) He says, for lacli of thorough spraying 

 in spring, due to rains, was troubled more with fungi on fruit and 

 foliage than usual. 



Z. G. Youngs, of Erie county, says the season of 1902 was the 

 w^ettest known. P^xcessive moisture and high winds caused a good 

 deal of damage. Fruit rotted some, especially the grape. Too wet 

 to cultivate properly. Strawberries and raspberries good yields. 

 Prices good. 



He sprayed with pure kerosene oil in February, which killed the 

 scale and without injury to the trees. 



Daniel N. Pershing, of Fayette county, says all kinds of fruit was 

 scarce, ^^'et weather and frost the cause. 



Calvin Cooper, of Lancaster county, says the season has been one 

 of excesses all through, dry and cool in early spring, wet and warm 

 in midsummer, and very dry and cool during the fall months. Be- 

 lieves that the cool, dry weather had much to do with the imperfect 

 setting of apples. 



J710. P. Jfredd, of Montgomery county, says, he would like to 

 sound a note of warning in reference to the San Jos6 Scale 

 louse. It is a terror, and if something is not done to exterminate 

 the pest, fruit growing is doomed in this State. In this and 

 the neighboring county of Chester, hundreds of trees have 

 been destroyed by this insect. Whole orchards of peaches have 

 been so badly affected that the owners have been compelled to dig 

 up and burn them. 



J. Q. Atldnson, of Montgomery county, says the Wakefield (Ked 

 Cider) seems to be their best winter apple, with York Imperial as a 

 close second. Ward's Late proves so far the best and most profita- 

 ble peach. 



Dana's Hovey promises with him the finest and best pear. Quality 

 nearly equal to Seckel; one month later. Retains foliage till win- 

 ter. Burbauk plums best, but rot badly. Abundance, fine. The 

 pears of a large Kieffer orchard, 18 miles from Philadelphia, did not 

 pay for the picking and were left to drop on the ground. 



R. JP. Schioarz, of Monroe county, mentions a new apple to him, 

 the Surprise, a large red, fall apple, something like the King of 

 Tompkins Co. 



J. K. Murray, of Montour county, says there is little or no atten- 

 tion paid to the care of orchards in his neighborhood. " '*I am the 

 only one I know of who sprays trees regularly. My apples this year 

 were of superior quality, much better and finer and keep better 

 than my neighbors, who took no special care. 



''Most people here farm their orchards along with the rest of 

 the field, thus expecting two crops at same time, Avith generally 

 less fertilizer than oilier parts of the farm." • 



D. C. Young, of McKean county, says he has three orchards 



