No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 107 



REPORT OF THE GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE TO THE 

 STATE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYL- 

 VANIA. 



On the 20th of last December, I sent out one liundred and seven 

 blanks, one or more to each county in the State. Replies were received 

 from seventy-two correspondents and from all sections, though a 

 few counties failed to report. Enough can be gleaned from these 

 reports, however, to enable me to report a fairly accurate condition 

 of the fruit industry and of the horticultural progress in the State. 



APPLES. 



The results in the api)]e orchards have, in most cases, been dis- 

 appointing and unprcttilable. The failure of this fruit can, in a 

 large degree, be attributed to natural causes. In some portions 

 of the State the bloom promised a good crop, but late frosts and 

 frequent rains nipped the prospects in the early stages. In other 

 instances the fruit dropped from no known causes. As the season 

 advanced and dry weather set in, coupled with the appearance of 

 the caterpillars, codling moths and other insect pests to which 

 the apple is subject, the prospects for a good crop grew less and less. 

 Practically all parts of the State were affected by the drougth and 

 the high temperature for weeks caused the fruit to ripen prema- 

 turely and fall. In some cases the apples were baked on the trees. 

 The conditions were favorable for the increase and activity of all 

 insects, but fungi gave less trouble than usual. About twenty-five 

 correspondents report a full crop, but fruit was of inferior quality 

 and did not keep well. The rest report from medium setting to a 

 failure. 



The tornado, known as the Galveston storm, brought a very large 

 part of the crop to the ground, which was made into cider or left 

 on the ground to rot. 



A number of corre.*^pondents assert that apple trees carefully 

 sprayed produce more fruit, are of better quality and keep better. 

 Varieties best adapted to localities and favorably mentioned are 

 referred to in observations of correspondents. 



PEARS. 



Pear culture, on the whole, proved more successful than that of 

 the apple. The early maturing fruit was of good quality, but later 

 varieties were smaller and of inferior quality. Fine crops of Kieffer 



