56 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the early sorts were all the rage as to high prices and profit. But they 

 have not proven profitable in late years, as you all know. As, for instance, 

 in 1879 and 1880 we planted from 600 to 800 trees, nearly all of the early 

 varieties; and when the trees were from five to seven years of age we 

 began to get great crops of early fruit, in number of bushels from 1,200 to 

 1,800, for several years. But they were not so profitable as in former 

 times. One season the whole crop of early peaches only netted 80 cents 

 per bushel, while the next season $1.02 net per bushel was all that was 

 realized for the crop. AVhile these early varieties of peach do not sell for 

 so much money as some of the later varieties, still they are quite profit- 

 able on account of bearing heavy crops each year. Well do I remember 

 the first big crop of Early Crawford, as to the great mistake made and 

 loss in marketing all of 200 bushels, which were nearly a total loss to the 

 grower on account of being over-ripe before going to market. 



EARLY-DAY AND LATER PROFITS. 



While speaking about the history and profits of peach culture, both as 

 to what has been done and what may be, I do not wish to pass by my 

 choice of all large fruits, the plum. In speaking of its early history and 

 culture, I would mention a few incidents which I call to mind. Two of 

 the six Lombard tress which were first planted by myself, in bearing the 

 second year netted the grower $18; while Damson began to yield and sold 

 well for $5 per bushel; and while on the old fruit farm I propagated the 

 Bradshaw to a great extent on peach root, which proved to be very profit- 

 able, both as to the growth of very fine trees and their prolificacy in bear- 

 ing. In the early days of plum-growing, with us, the fruit would sell for 

 high prices — Bradshaws from 90 cents to $1.50 per fifth basket, and all 

 varieties in proportion. I well remember having one tree which, when 

 six years old after planting, for its first crop produced two bushels of very 

 choice fruit, which netted $9 of clear money, But other trees did equally 

 well in proportion. While of late years the prices of fruit does not rule so 

 high, yet the growing of choice varieties of plum is very profitable at the 

 present day. There are many thousands of plum trees now in our county, 

 which will soon come into bearing, and if rightly managed will prove a 

 bonanza to the growers. As to the actual profit per acre in peach and 

 plum growing, in our county, it is very hard to give a true estimate; but, 

 generally speaking, I would say from $800 to $500 per acre can be realized. 

 It depends largely on what varieties are cultivated, time of ripening, and 

 favorable seasons. 



As to the diseases of the peach and plum, we have but little — compara- 

 tively none. But little black-knot can be found, and that mostly on the 

 wild cherry in swamps; also some on young trees which are imported for 

 planting from unreliable nurseries. To my knowledge, as commissioner, 

 we have not a genuine case of peach yellows in the county. We had 

 peach and plum rot during the past season, quite severely, and this disease 

 may do considerable damage. But I believe this disease can be controlled 

 to a large extent. 



THE BLACK-KNOT QUESTION. 



President Lyon asked for definite information as to their subjugation of 

 black-knot. 



