288 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



and southeastern ijoilions of the State produced a large yield. It 

 is reported that out of one town in Susquehanna county there were 

 shipped over |31,000 worth of apples. 



Prices of apples varied from 15 to 75 cents per bushel. In sec- 

 tions where the yield was large, it seemed for a while as if there 

 would be no demand at all for the fruit, while portions of this State, 

 as well as other sections of the country wanted the fruit and were 

 willing to pay the growers remunerative prices. 



We collect these facts four or five months after it can be of any 

 practical use to anyone. Why can not this association or our De- 

 parement of Agriculture gather these crop statistics at a seasonable 

 time of the year, publish and send them out promptly, so that all 

 may know before or during the time of harvesting the crop where 

 fruit is plentiful or where it is a failure? Usually it would be a 

 means to prevent fruit from going to waste or leave the grower at 

 the mercy of the buyers on the one hand and on the other hand 

 those wanting fruit could know where to get it. Such an arrange- 

 ment v/ould prove beneficial to all. The United States Department 

 of Agriculture gathers up these crop reports from all over the coun- 

 try and issues monthly bulletins, and the wide-awake farmer surely 

 profits thereby. 



Years ago I urged upon this association the possibilities of Penn- 

 sylvania as an apple growing state, and as the years went by the 

 possibilities became clearer and brighter, but no systematic, intel- 

 ligent efforts were made to promote this industry. This associa- 

 tion was the pioneer in the work, and a large balance stands to its 

 credit. The work of its members was disinterested. I ask, now, 

 Mr. President, has not the time come when it is a plain duty for the 

 State to aid in the advancement and promotion of an industry that 

 will so much contribute to the welfare an<J wealth of the people. 



PEARS. 



The yield of the pear crop was not as satisfactory as last year. 

 A year ago, while the apple crop in the State was a failure, fifty cor- 

 respondents reported a good crop. This year sixteen correspondents 

 report a good crop, seventeen a medium or fair crop, and twenty-five 

 a poor crop. 



The cause assigned for the failure is cold weather in winter and 

 spring, while blight still prevails to a large extent. Some report 

 trees about all killed by blight, including the Kieffer. 



Whenever mention is made, prices were, as a rule, fair for this 

 fruit. 



