142 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. D©c. 



Diana; the fruitful earth with Ceres; the grey sea with Neptune 

 and the blue air with Minerva, all of these attract the attention 

 of the thoughtful and thus link us more closely with the mysteries 

 of the air, earth, water and their varied creatures. As a natural 

 result, the developments of science have been far more numerous 

 and of greater benefit than ever before, many discoveries having 

 been revealed which but a few years ago were regarded as in- 

 surmountable dilliculties. Questions of economical utility, which 

 at one time appeared to be unsolvable, are now made plain, and 

 appear as simple but valuable lessons in practical horticulture. 



Although the orchards, vineyards, gardens and fruit farms may 

 be regarded as of man's devising, we all, perhaps, covet and cherish 

 a certain domain, under whatever limitation®, where the children 

 played, the middle-aged rested, and the old began to grow garru- 

 lous and dream and play again, recalling the promises of youth, and 

 meditating over those which remain unfulfilled. It is while in 

 this contemplative mood that the speaker deplores the fact that 

 horticulture in Pennsylvania has suffered much loss because of 

 its practical separation from agriculture, and the lack of the finan- 

 cial sui)port that has hampered the work and operations of the State 

 Horticultural Association in the past. This, in a measure, may 

 have been due to the fact that too many of us have concentrated 

 our gaze on minute attractions and thus lost sight of some of the 

 greater opportunities; but the eye is not always focused on the im- 

 material things of our lives, and a® an Association, let us hope 

 for the hearty co-operation of the Legislature now in session, and 

 that they maj accord to us the support and encouragement that this 

 great interest represents, and fully deserves. 



The cultivation of fruit in Pennsylvania shows most marvelous 

 advances, and long before the white man undertook to possess 

 or subdue what is now the greatest and grandest State in the Union, 

 small fruit of many sorts were a natural production of its soil. 

 But it is only when we visit the leading county fairs that we can 

 comprehend and realize the extent and meaning of the great pro- 

 gress that horticulture has made in this State. Throughout the 

 greater part of the State, apple trees are thrifty and good bearers, 

 {•roducing fine and highly colored fruit, many varieties being notable 

 for their good-keeping qualities. Some of the native varieties have 

 Avon an almost national reputation. The pears and peaches of East- 

 ern Pennsylvania are unsurpassed, while the famed peach belt of 

 Southern Pennsylvania has also been the surprise and admiration 

 of some of our most noted pomologists. The pears of Montgomery 

 and Bucks counties have a most excellent reputation in the Phila- 

 delphia and New York markets, as quite a number of growers have 

 suceeeded admirably in the culfuTc of this deliciou* fruit. Tm- 



