No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 121 



Jos. \V. Thomas, of Chester coimty, reports apple crop a failure. 

 Peach trees too heavily loaded, fruit small and price low. Considers 

 Kradshaw one of the best varieties of plums. Quinces succeed best 

 when planted near running water. A marked increase in orna- 

 mental planting. Marked benefits result from spraying. 



J. E. Jamson, of Juniata county, reports a good yield of pears and 

 peaches, but other kinds a short crop. Apple trees that bloomed 

 fine and i)romised well produced but little fruit. Peaches were small, 

 due to drouth; a great deal of yellows and believes that profitable 

 peach culture is a thing of the past. Increase in the planting of 

 shrubbery and ornamental trees. Wants to put in a good word 

 for the Smith's Cider apple and the Kieffer pear; 'the latter grows 

 in favor as it becomes better know^n. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Secretary — I notice one correspondent reports that the Kieffer 

 pear at 20 cents a basket is the most profitable variety to grow. Is 

 it not impossible at times to sell them at any price? 



Mr. Bartram. — At this time my crop of 1900 is still unsold. 



Mr. Hiester. — I have no Kieffer orchard, only a few trees, but have 

 been able to dispose of my crop at seventy-five cents per basket. 



The Chair. — I believe it is a fact that most Kieffers are sold at 

 a loss or not at all. 



Mr. Jamison. — I disposed of all my surplus at forty-five to fifty 

 cents per basket, and could have sold more. 



Mr. Pyle. — I consider the growing of Kieffer pears at twenty-five 

 cents a basket a good business. 



The Chair. — In connection with the discussion of Eeport of Gen- 

 eral Fruit Committee, I would suggest that Topic No. .35 be con- 

 sidered: 



''What Part Does Cultivation Plav in the Svstematic Feeding of 

 Trees and Plants?" 



Mr. Suavely. — I would say the same part that cultivation plays 

 in growing a crop of corn. Proper cultivation, proper feeding and 

 spraying are three essentials in successful fruit culture. In orchard 

 culture, I usually cultivate both ways with disc harrow, so as to 

 destroy all weeds. For getting close to the trees I use the Morgan 

 grape hoe. One of the most important results of cultivation is the 

 covering of moisture, which is so essential to the proper development 

 and maturing of summer and autumn fruits. I am satisfied that 

 frequent cultivation of my peach orchard made for me at No. 1 crop 

 of peaches. I do not use stable manure in any of my orchards, be- 

 lieving it breeds fungi and insects. I occasionally plow down a 

 crop of clover. 



The Chair. — Doctors will disagree, Mr. Meehan used to advocate 



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