296 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



with coru fodder. Those who bagged or sprayed their grapes had 

 fine crops; where not practiced the rot did great damage. 



Jno. F. Boyer, Mt. Pleasant Mills, Snyder county, reports some 

 peaches in his section. He says: "I had prospects for more peaches 

 than any man in this State last summer, but on the 19th of July a 

 hail storm struck our place and in less than thirty minutes I lost 

 five thousand dollars. The entire peach crop was gone," He adds 

 that nearly all his other crops were ruined at the same time. 



Jos. H. Paschall, Ward, Delaware county, says: "Many of the 

 apples were stung by the curculio before the bloom was all off, and 

 made permanent blemishes. We don't seem to have any effective 

 means of fighting this insect." He speaks very highly of the Pyle 

 apple, and says it might be taken for a York Imperial, only that it 

 has better shape, size and color. In his opinion it is an acquisition 

 that ought to be disseminated. A large crop of plums, the com- 

 mon blue doing the best. Of spraying, he says one great advantage 

 is in keeping foliage in a healthy condition. 



Jos. W. Thomas, King of Prussia, Chester county, reports a large 

 crop of fine apples. Large crop of pears and plums. A fair crop of 

 peaches. 



Mr. Chase: If in order, I would state that I do not think this re- 

 port should be filed without commendation for its excellence. I 

 think these reports should be prepared and published in the autumn 

 when the information contained might be of more practical value. 

 Probably some arrangement might be made with the Department of 

 Agriculture to have the information compiled and promptly pub- 

 lished by tlie Department. 



Mr. Johnson: As far as disseminating a knowledge of the Penn- 

 sylvania fruit crop is concerned, it would be a good idea. However, 

 the information would be only local, and would give no idea of the 

 crop at large throughout the country. No journal has done more 

 tow'ard securing prompt and reliable reports in this direction than 

 the American Agriculturist. I have taken the paper for some 20 

 years and have found its reports generally trustworth}'. 



President Heiges: My views on this question are in accord with 

 those of the President-elect, Mr. Chase; that the information com- 

 piled by the Chairman of the General Fruit Committee should be 

 made public much earlier. Frequently such information would be 

 of value to our horticulturists and fruit growers. 



