No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 407 



brought from .fG.OO to |7.00 per barrel. The Seckel is another va- 

 riety that should be more extensively planted. The season of the 

 year at which it ripens, its beauty, high qualities and productiveness 

 all recommend it. 



Peach. 



This choice fruit gave a very light crop the past season, not only 

 in Pa. but throughout the United States, owing it is claimed to 

 climatic conditions being unfavorable. It is so much more pleasant 

 to put the blame on nature, than to acknowledge ourselves in fault. 

 But where orchards were suitably located, hardy varieties planted, 

 pruned, fertilized, thinned and cultivated as they should have been, 

 the crop was good, and above the average in size and flavor. Prices 

 realized were very satisfactorv. 



No new varieties of any special merit have been introduced the 

 past season, the number of trees set were rather under, than over 

 the average. 



Plum. 



The plum crop was very light, unfortunately this valuable fruit is 

 being neglected, a few years back when the Japan varieties were 

 introduced, large areas were planted, as they were recommended as 

 curculio proof. Although they did not prove so, they were for a few 

 years very profitable, but from over-production, or lack of vitality 

 they soon ceased to b6 profitable. They are very susceptible to the 

 Peach Yellows and other diseases, and as they have died off the 

 other finer varieties have not been planted as extensively as in former 

 years, and it is now very rare to see any large quantities of choice 

 iplums on the markets. ^ The curculio is the worst enemy to the 

 growth of the finer varieties of plums. 



Cherries. 



This fruit was almost a failure, very few trees of any variety 

 had a crop. The sour cherry does very well throughout the entire 

 State. The finer sweet varieties are very difficult to raise, they fruit 

 well enough, but the difficulty is in maintaining the tree, they are 

 so difficult to get started that the majority of the farmers become 

 discouraged. The bark splits open on the sun side. Young trees 

 should have their trunks protected the first few years. The west- 

 ern farmers are even neglecting the sour varieties, giving them up 

 to the black knot. If they would prune these off and burn, and 

 spray their trees with the lime and sulphur solution while the trees 

 are dormant they could raise abundance of this choice fruit. 



Small Fruits." 



These were also below the average in quantity and quality. Ta- 

 ken as a whole, the past season was rather an unfavorable one, few 

 farmers realizing any profits from their orchards. But the few who 

 have given their orchards special attention have found the past sea- 

 son one of the most remunerative in many years. This again force- 

 ably impresses upon us the importance of giving the best attention, 

 and never was the value of thorough spraying more plainly seen. 

 This should be an incentive for better care in the future. 



