No. 6. DEPARTIvIENT OF AGRICULTURE. 441 



HUNTINGDON COUNTY. 



Very few large orchards of any kind are to be found in the county, 

 although the farms are well supplied with a variety of fruit for home 

 use. All hinds do well when planted on high ground that is deep 

 a«d has a good sub-soil. An orchard of Sinipso« plum, on the farm 

 of Mr. A. A. Simpson, near Mill Creek, planted in 1880 and I880 has 

 been yielding profitable crops since 1890; this is a new variety that 

 originated in Mercer county, 111. It is hardy, a good bearer and 

 shipper, has free seed and is a good seller. Peaches do well on high 

 ground. Small fruits can be grown, but the nearby markets are 

 well supplied with wild blackberries and raspberries from the woods, 

 which sell very cheap during the height of the season. 



INDIANA COUNTY. 



No attention has been paid to fruit for commercial purposes. The 

 soil of the valleys is principally heavy clay which is not adapted to 

 the purpose. Apples, peaches, pears and grapes can be grown on the 

 high ground. Japan plums that have been planted on high ground 

 with a good sub-soil promise well. There are plenty of good loca- 

 tions for orchards in the county, but railroad facilities are very poor, 

 except in a very small section, and while this condition continues 

 there is little inducement to plant. 



JEFFERSON COUNTY. 



Little attention was paid to the subject of fruit prior to 1890. 

 Since that time a few orchards have been planted with good results. 

 On the higher elevations all kinds of fruit do well, and there is a good 

 home market in the ditferent mining towns, both for orchard and 

 small fruits at high prices. The most profitable apples are Baldwin, 

 Spy, Eambo and Falla water; in peaches, Elberta, Wonderful and 

 Champion have been the money makers. European plums of all 

 kind rot badly. Burbank and Abundance are being tried, but no 

 bearing trees have been reported. With its high elevation, Jefferson 

 county should produce the finest kind of winter apples. 



JUNIATA COUNTY. 



The Tuscarora ^'alley along the foot of Shade Mountain is a fine 

 section for fruit of all kinds. Apples and peaches pay best. Many 

 profitable orchards have been grown and many miserable failures 

 have been reported from what is known as the "Juniata Peach Belt." 

 The principal cause of failure has been that the trees were planted on 

 shallow, slaty hills, where they could not get sufficient moisture 



