FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 343 



sketcli hero. Many other worms and moths of note might bo mentioned, but 

 having adopted tlic same phin with those robbers of our money and labor that 

 the compiler of tlic legishitive manual has ever done, 1 will here finish regard- 

 ing the most noted of these insect fruit destroyers. 



There are numerous insect friends as well as foes. Some of these insect 

 friends are properly called scavengers, because they consume decaying matter; 

 some live upon otiier insects that destroy our fruit, but cannot bo further 

 noticed hero. 



The nosology of vegetation is not particularly under consideration, hence I 

 cannot enter particularly into the merits of this part of the great difficulties of 

 fruit growing. The cultivator must study his calling and gain his informa- 

 tion by mental and physical labor. 



The cultivation of fruits requires great courage ; no cowardly fellow need 

 commence it; should he commence he would be like tlie cowardly fellow who 

 once resolved to make a campaign but when he was started the ravens began to 

 croak and he laid down his arms and stopped, utterly refusing to go further. 

 This is the way many have set out in the business; some as amateurs and 

 some for profit and a regular business; and because some of their results were 

 badly threatened with disaster, concluded to never go further in the business, 

 loosing all they had put into the business and the little valuable experience 

 already acquired. It seems to me I see one amateur pear grower present of 

 this cowardly crew. Sometimes I feel like saying ''a coward" to those who 

 might -with much benefit to mankind set an example in the planting of or- 

 chards, ^vheu the only excuse for not going into it is their doubt of perfect 

 success, but this might be too severe ; so in this case examine not whether I am 

 severe upon you but whether I am so for your own good. 



It is gratifying to notice the rapid strides that are being made in improve- 

 ment in the horticultural pursuits in this and adjoining counties, the favorable 

 change which is taking place throughout in bringing to the greatest perfection 

 all the agricultural as well as horticultural pursuits, the elevating influence 

 bearing upon everything pertaining to agriculture is flattering. It has become 

 quite fashionable for the professional, the niercantile, the mechanical, and 

 some of the lumbering interests to engage in farming, fruit-growing, and stock 

 raising: some few as mere amateurs, but the most in good earnest. 



It would be extremely gratifying to a very large portion of the tillers of the 

 soil to know, from those who have had more experience and who are more able 

 to express in proper language, just how to manage, in the most economical way, 

 compatible with success. We have a well organized agricultural society here 

 but no pomological society seems to have entered the heads of our people. 

 Too much importance cannot be attached to this subject. 



The meteorological conditions of this section the past year have been quite 

 satisfactory; all crops have matured fully, and especially fruits. 



Any failures can fairly be attributed to a lack of care in cultivation : those 

 in the highest cultivation and soils of the richest character having a power of 

 resistance and a recuperative energy, which insure good crops under circum- 

 stances apparently adverse. The observations of all intelligent cultivators at- 

 test the value of perfect drainage and good culture in warding off dangers from 

 drought and excessive moisture, especially in the level but extremely rich soils 

 of this region. 



It seems to me that it should bo the province of the agricultural chemical 

 laboratory to institute an elaborate analysis or examination of the leaf, stem, 

 and fruits of the tree and vine at frequent steps of its growth, so that any 



