1884.] REPORT OP THE POMOLOGIST. 311 



KEPORT OF THE POMOLOGIST. 



p. M. AUGUE. 



The year 1883 has been in many respects to the fruit-grower a 

 peculiar one. 



Generally through our State, as also in the country, the apple 

 crop has been to a great extent a failure, and yet in almost every 

 State, and in parts of our own, there have been exceptional orchards 

 that have yielded abundantly. Orchards in good condition that 

 failed to bear in 1882, and that escaped the ravages of the canker 

 worm and other unfavorable influences, gave a good crop. Culti- 

 vated orchards, especially where dressed with a good superphos. 

 phate, in some instances bore a full crop. On the whole, the old 

 experience, "good care, good success," has been reiterated, though 

 not in every instance. 



The Pear gave a most bountiful crop, of special excellence; 

 many of the free-bearing varieties, like the Bartlett, Seckel, Beurre 

 d'Anjou, Vicar, Duchesse, Louise Bonne de Jersey, and Lawrence 

 bore so marvelously as to demonstrate the practicability of pears 

 being a common fruit for the masses. The blight has appeared in 

 here and there a locality, but not to such an extent as to offer any 

 material discouragement to the general planting of this noble fruit. 

 Still, the occasional attacks of this disease are sufficient to warn us 

 not to over-stimulate our trees, but to obtain only a moderate healthy 

 growth of well-ripened wood ; and we should be warned to secure 

 proper drainage, where needed, and to apply to our orchards an 

 occasional dressing of lime broadcast, to counteract acidity in the 

 soil, or any fungus growth, possibly leading to blight. 



The Peach has given an abundant crop, of great excellence. We 

 believe that in no single year has our State ever produced so many 

 baskets of choice peaches. There has never been more to encour- 

 age future planting than at present. The warm days of December 

 last, followed by the severe cold of Dec. 23d, have spoiled a portion 

 of the blossom buds for the coming crop, but there are many yet 

 left sound, and there is a probability of a moderate crop, while 

 it is demonstrated that we can raise as good peaches as any to be 

 found. 



It is true that we may suffer sometimes from disease in ou 

 orchards, but by securing good trees and planting on new land, 



