No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 449 



SNYDER COUNTY. 



On the ridges of Snyder county is found deep, black ironstone soil, 

 strongly impregnated with iron, which is the very best for peaches. 

 Large orchards have been planted in recent years, many of which 

 have already come into profit. On these ridges the later varieties of 

 peaches can be grovv'n. Salway has been planted in large quantities, 

 and is pronounced the money maker. The following are also grown 

 with much profit: Bilyeus Late October, Smock, Fords, Chair's 

 Choice, Elberta, Stump and Beer's Smock. 



Apples are only grown for home consumption, but the soil and 

 climate seem well suited to them, especially the fall and early winter 

 varieties. Summer Rambo, Smokehouse, Baldwin, Yellow Trans- 

 parent, Red Astrachau, York Imperial and Belleliower have been 

 grown successfully. The leading pears are Bartlett, Clapp's Favor- 

 ite, Lawrence and Kielier. The leading plums are abundance. Bur- 

 bank and Imperial Gage. Cherries — Black Tartarian, Windsor, 

 Montmorency and Early Richmond. Small fruits are grown by a few 

 farmers for market, but the plantations are small and only worked as 

 side issues. A few intelligent, energetic men have planted orchards, 

 and by their judicious care have made them so profitable that quite 

 an interest has been manifested lately all over the county, and if 

 the same good judgment is exercised in the selection of sites for 

 orchards as was shown when the first were planted, Snyder county 

 is destined to make a name for herself shortly in the fruit markets 

 of the country. 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 



With its rolling surface and many high hills, Somerset county fur- 

 nishes many excellent locations for orchards. Owing to distance 

 from market, little attention has been paid to commercial fruit cul- 

 ture, but mining towns that have sprung up within recent years, offer 

 a good home market and orchards are being planted. If care is taken 

 to plant above the frost line, all kinds of fruit can be grown to perfec- 

 tion. On the higher altitudes the Albemarle Pippin succeeds, and 

 there is no more profitable market sort. Baldwin, Northern Spy, 

 Twenty Ounce and Early Harvest succeed well, also a native seed- 

 ling, called Spice Apple. The latter beings ripening in August and 

 continues ripening until October and can be kept until March. It 

 has a very rich, aromatic and acid flavor and is a good cooker. 



The leading peaches are Alexander, Early Rivers, Mt. Rose, Cham- 

 pion, Lemon Free and Stump. Plums — Lombard and German Prune. 

 All kinds of cherries do well, but no attention has been paid to the 

 finer sorts. Concord, Worden, Salem, Niagara and Moore's Early 

 grapes do well , if planted above frost line. If care is not taken in 

 29—6—1902 



