10 STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



President Evans' Response. 



From observations takea oa recent trips about the State, I feel 

 that the fruit-growers have great reason to be thankful that providence 

 has again smiled on us. While we hear of failures from various causes 

 in many of our neighboring states, the outlook for a fair crop of most 

 of the fruits is good in nearly all parts of our own State. Geniton and 

 Winesap apples that bore full last year are resting this year. In some 

 sections all varieties have fallen some and in a few places all have 

 dropped. There are some peaches in most parts of the State and a full 

 crop in many parts. Plums and cherries are a fair crop nearly all over. 

 Strawberries have yielded a fair crop of good quality and brought good 

 prices, and as far as heard from, grapes are generally promising. The 

 anthrack on our raspberries is giving way somewhat and we have 

 promise of a half crop. Prices on some of the leading articles of com- 

 merce are advancing and knowing ones say they will go still higher 

 and that others will follow until all branches of trade will take on a> 

 healthy condition. City real estate will become more active; farm lands 

 will bring better prices, and the laboiing man will be better paid for 

 his work. Then the products of our orchards and vineyards will 

 meet more ready sale at better prices. In view of all this, it stands us 

 in hand to see to it that our orchards receive proper treatment and the 

 products be handled to the best advantage. The enterprising buyer is 

 already in the field and making offers for the products of orchards ; 

 and remember, he knows his business better than you do, and will al- 

 ways give himself the benefit of the doubt, if you allow him to in a deal. 

 If you have a nice block of any of the leading varieties of apples, you 

 will have no trouble in disposing of the product any time between this 

 and picking time. As usual the buyers all ask about Ben Davis first, 

 and it is a fact that an orchard of Ben Davis ( all things being equal } 

 will sell more readly and for better prices than any other variety. I 

 see in my travels this season a great many orchards that are being 

 managed in a way that must result sadly to their detriment and to their 

 owner's loss. I have seen many nice young orchards that seem to 

 have been well cared for up to last fall and then sown to rye, wheat or 

 oats this spring. I don't think a member of this State or any local hor- 

 ticultural society, or a reader of any of our leading horticultural journals 

 would do that, and I am truly sorry for any who do not know better. 

 Just as well give a babe broken doses arsenic and expect it to develop 



