108 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



are reported, which, iu some localities, sold for remunerative prices, 

 notwithstanding the large crop of peaches. 



One correspondent says that the Kieffer at twenty cents a basket 

 is the most profitable pear to grow. 



It seems the Kiefter receives less abuse than formerly, and it is 

 safe to predict that not all the Kieffer pear trees will be dug up for 

 some years to come, at least not until a variety as productive and of 

 higher quality takes its place. As a canning fruit it has come to 

 stay. A comparatively small number of correspondents report a 

 failure of pears. 



I would especially call attention to a pear tree in Allegheny county 

 referred to by Mr. Burns. 



PEACHES. 



The majority of correspondents report a large crop of peaches, 

 but, except where through cultivation and thinning the fruit were 

 practiced, the results were small fruit and largely of inferior quality. 

 Much of the fruit ripened prematurely, caused by ''yellows," want of 

 cultivation, and last, but not least, for want of insufficient available 

 plant food. A dry summer like 1900 tests the skill of the peach 

 grower, and only those who attended to details were rewarded with 

 satisfactory results. Some correspondents report that successful 

 peach growing in the Juniata Valley is a thing of the past. Reports 

 from the Penn Mar district are not much more encouraging. Yel- 

 lows is assigned as the cause. 



In some localities the buds were practically all destroyed as a 

 result of the low temperature in winter and spring. 



The Elberta, where hardiness of bud is not essential, is probably 

 the most popular peach. The relative hardiness of the different 

 varieties of peaches should be considered when planting an orchard. 



Mr. Greenlee, of Mercer county, claims that the Mercer, a peach 

 of high quality, is almost as hardy as the Early Rivers. The test 

 was made in an orchard of thirtv varities. A severe freeze in 

 March showed that the Reeves, Favorite Stump, Smock and Fox 

 were much hardier in the bud than Crawford Late, Old Mixon, Mt. 

 Rose, Elberta and some others. 



PLUMS. 



The three plagues of the plum grower are black knot, the curculio 

 and rot. The first must be fought with the knife and the diseased 

 part burned. If it ai)pear8 on large limbs shave out carefully and 

 cover the parts with turpentine. Jarring the trees is the only 

 effective means to get rid of the curculio. The ''Little Turk" wants 



