232 ANNUAL REPORT. OF THE Off. Doc. 



FRUIT CULTURE— ORCHARD FRUIT. 



By Prof. G. C. Butz, State College, Pa. 



Pennsylvania is a much better fruit state than is generally sup- 

 posed or known, and our institute lecturers will do well to equip 

 themselves with fuller information on the subject so that they can 

 speak with greater force and arouse a more active interest in fruit 

 culture. The last census report shows Pennsylvania to be the second 

 state in the Union in the production of apples, and I am proud of 

 the fact; but I am jealous of other states because they are now plant- 

 ing more rapidly than we are and we will speedily loose our high 

 rank. The census report for 1900 estimates the apple crop for 1899 

 to have been 24,000,000 bushels, and the number of trees 11,775,000, 

 and an average of only 126 bushels of apples per farm. In point of 

 number of bearing trees, our State stands sixth, showing that our 

 yields per tree must have been considerably higher than in other 

 states. 



In the production of pears, Pennsylvania ranks fourth, reporting 

 434,000 bushels. In cherries we rank first, reporting 475,000 bush- 

 els. In peaches we rank sixteenth, reporting 143,000 bushels, and 

 in plums we rank thirteenth, reporting about 100,000 bushels. 



The fruit plantations in Pennsylvania are considerably scattered 

 over the state instead of being centered in restricted areas. A few 

 centers have been developed in recent years, as with peaches in 

 Franklin and Juniata counties, pears in Montgomery and Chester 

 counties and apples in Adams county; but they have not been main- 

 tained with enthusiasm mainly because of the discouragement that 

 follows the advent of troublesome insect enemies and fungous dis- 

 eases. Fruit growers have not been zealous enough to inform them- 

 selves upon the nature of the foes of their crops and the methods of 

 overcoming them, and consequently the serious inroads upon their 

 profits leads to but one conclusion — that it does not pay to grow 

 fruit, and thus it is that run-down orchards and vineyards stand neg- 

 lected or are reported to grow ordinary farm crops. 



A fruit grower should possess intelligence enough to be able to 

 study reports upon the nature of insects and fungous diseases. He 

 should be able to stand in his orchard and looking upon his trees or 

 fruit be able to detect and explain every defect or unhealthy symp- 

 tom that may be present, just as a doctor diagnose's a case of sick- 

 ness in a human being. Institute lecturers should prepare them- 



