No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUI^TURE. 777 



As to best varieties, Ciawford's Late is named by 20 j^i-owei-s, 15 

 growers re])ort Elberta, 13 Old Nixon, 10 Mountain Kose, I) Smock, 

 Fox's Seedling. A large number of varieties receive favorable men- 

 tion from 1 to 3 times. Every farmer should plant a few peach trees 

 to supply or partly supply the demands of his family. But for 

 commercial purposes extensive planting- should be limited to dis- 

 tricts having the most favorable soil and climatic conditions. Thou- 

 sands of peach trees are planted in this State from which no profit 

 is derived, when a series of years are taken into account. 



PLUMS. 



The IDOo plum crop was not a universal success, although many 

 growers had fine crops. Thirteen correspondents report a very good 

 yield, 10 a medium crop, 21 a light croj) and 10 no fruit. Some grow- 

 ers report that the crop was very large. Failures were due to late 

 spring frosts, wet weather during the blooming period, black knot, 

 curculio and rotting of the fruit. 



The Japan class is very much the most popular for extensive plant- 

 ing. The trees come into bearing early and are very productive. 

 Burbank and Abundance are the leading varieties, although the 

 Japan plums are receiving marked attention. The value of the do- 

 mestica class is not discontinued. The large luscious fruit of the Do- 

 mestica, as the German Prune, find ready sale at remunerative prices, 

 and the trees are longer lived than the Japan sorts. Some growers 

 are abandoning the culture of Japan plums and planting largely of 

 the Domestica type and also the Wild Goose. 



Abundance is favorably mentioned 18 times, Burbank 14, Lom- 

 bard 13, German Prune 7, Bradshaw 7, Green Gage 7, Damson G, Wil- 

 son 6 and Eed June 4. 



The knife is the only effective means to control black knot, but it 

 should be used more frequehtly and thoroughly than is the practice 

 in many orchards. The rot may be and is controlled by some by 

 spraying, while Jarring seems to be the usual method to check the 

 ravages of the curculio. 



QUINCES. 



Very few eommercial orchardists are giving the (luince any atten- 

 tion. A limited market for this fruit, a narrow range of soils 

 adapted to its culture, and the serious depredations of various in- 

 sects and diseases account for its unpopularity. Borers, blight, 

 codling moth, curculio and blight arc the most prevalent and de- 

 structive pests. Twenty-one correspondents report that it is suc- 

 cessfully grown in their counties, mainly for home use. 



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