No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 571 



the profits on these varieties — and will be encouraged to plant more 

 of them than we are now doing. 



Since our Association was first formed conditions have changed 

 very materially, so much so that we find our present Constitution 

 does not meet the requirements of the times. During the interval 

 between sessions, I have appointed a committee to take up this sub- 

 ject and in consultation with the Executive Committee suggest such 

 changes as in their judgment are necessary. These amendments 

 will be presented for your approval at this meeting. In conclusion 

 I will quote a new year sentiment given by Governor Stewart be- 

 cause it is much better expressed than anything I can formulate: 

 "Let us commence the New Year by resolving to do something worth 

 while, something that will be of benefit to some one besides our- 

 selves, and let us make sure that at the end of 1911 we shall be able 

 to say that we have been of real service to our fellow men, our city, 

 our state, our nation. Let us eliminate as much of the selfishness in 

 us as possible, so that when the next New Year comes around it 

 may be truthfully said of us, that we have remembered that there 

 are others." 



REPOKT OF THE GENEBAL FRUIT COMMITTEE 



By J. D. HERR, Chairman, Lancaster, Pa. 



In offering this report 1 wish to state that the data herein con- 

 tained are compiled from one hundred local reports received from 

 members of our committee located in nearly every county in the 

 State, in reply to a list of questions sent out about December 1st. 

 I -desire to express my appreciation of the assistance given me by 

 the members of the committee, and my thanks are hereby extended 

 to all who have so kindly and carefully answered the numerous 

 questions submitted. 



The yield of apples for the year 1910 appears to average 40 per cent, 

 of a full crop. This average is kept low because of the report of 

 failure of the crop in the western half of the State, caused by a 

 killing frost which visited that section about May 1st, after an un- 

 usually early spring had forced the trees into bloom. It is worthy 

 of note that onlv orchards located on sites with faultv air drainage 

 were affected, while others in the same locality, but situated more 

 favorably, escaped uninjured. 



The quality of the fruit is reported as good and very good by over 

 50 per cent, of my correspoddents. TAventy-five per cent, report poor, 

 while the remainder is divided betv.^een medium, fair and "good 

 where sprayed." Prices vary as may be expected, about as widely 

 as quality, and range from 50 cents per bushel, and |1.25 to |3.00 

 and $4.00 per barrel. The prices in the commercial sections seem 

 to have been $2.50 to $2.75 per barrel net at the time of picking, 

 while such growers as have stored their crops are now receiving a 

 considerable advance on these prices. 



