No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 447 



NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 



The soil seems to be naturally adapted to all kinds of fruit, but the 

 business is very much neglected. The best apple orchards are 

 jilanted at the base of the mountains. The winter varieties, Bald- 

 win, Ben Davis, Belleflower, Smith's Cider and Peck's Pleasant, are 

 most profitable. The summer and fall varieties are not so desirable. 

 Few peaches are grown. Beer's Smock, Reeve's Favorite, Champion, 

 Globe, Late Crawford and Old Mixon Free have been tried with 

 moderate success. Bartlett, Seckel, Clapp's Favorite and Kieffer 

 pears have been grown. From reports furnished it would seem that 

 the only fruit that has been grown with much profit is the winter 

 apple. 



NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY. 



Farmers are just beginning to take proper care of their orchards. 

 They have the soil and location suited to the growth of all kinds of 

 fruit, and the local markets in which to sell. In addition, thev have 

 excellent railroad facilities to reach markets more remote. The best 

 orchards are found on the ridges on either loam, red shale or gravel 

 soil. The leading apples are Baldwin, Smokehouse, Belleflower, Sum- 

 mer Rambo, Yellow Transparent, Northern Spy, Early Harvest and 

 Maiden's Blush. The leading pears are Bartlett, Clapp's Favorite, 

 Flemish Beauty, Sheldon and Kieffer. Peaches^ — Early and Late 

 Crawford, Old Mixon, Foster and Mt. Rose. Plums — Green Gage, 

 German Prune, Wild Goose, Purple Niagara and Abundance. Some 

 small fruits are grown for local market, but none are shipped out of 

 the countv. 



PERRY COUNTY. 



This should become one of the leading fruit counties of the State. 

 It is crossed by several mountain ranges, between which are found 

 elevated valleys and moderately sloping hills, with deep, sandy and 

 loamy soil, often filled with broken stone rich in iron, on which all 

 kinds of fruit will grow in perfection, but especially apples and 

 peaches. It has good railroad facilities for reaching all parts of the 

 State. The farmers are beginning to realize their advantages and 

 are planting extensively in some sections, but have not given their 

 orchards the attention they require. 



Owing to the mild climate, all fruit should be planted on high 

 ground. Apples grown from 100 to 500 feet above the level of the 

 Juniata river keep better than those grown on lower land. It is a 

 great country for cherries. All kinds, both sweet and sour bear 

 enormous crops, but little attention has been paid to the finer sorts. 

 The leading apples are Summer Rambo, Smokehouse, Baldwin, 



