No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 391 



highest respect because he has his country home in a township in 

 ■which there ai-e nearly 200 miles of townshij) roads, who strongly 

 inclines to this opposing view. Notwithstanding this, your Com- 

 mittee believes that a half century of constant use and close ob- 

 servance of the country road, Avith no inconsiderable effort toward the 

 solution of the economic and ])ractical questions involved, added to 

 a more or less studious attitude toward the annual and biennial 

 output of legislation relating thereto, justifies it in the conception 

 above expressed. 



In conclusion, Pennsylvania roads constitute the biggest pro])osi- 

 tion the State has on hand, from whatever point of view may be taken, 

 requiring tremendous outlays of labor, money, time and patience for 

 its accomplishment, and the one thing for everybody concerned to do 

 is push, not kick. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUIT AND FRUIT CULTURE 



By E. A. STUDHOLME, Chairman. 



The year 1915 has been a very profitable one to the fruit growers 

 in some sections of the State, while in other sections the fruit crop 

 was almost a total failure. Reports from some counties show that 

 the heavy frosts of May 2G, 27 and 28 killed practically all the fruit, 

 while in the other counties that escaped the late frost the yield was 

 good. This is especially true in regards to the peach crop. Fortu- 

 nately the counties where most of the peaches are grown in this 

 State did not suffer from the frost and the yield in these counties 

 was very large. 



This condition in the State brought very forcibly to our attention 

 the need of better facilities in marketing our crops. In some sections 

 the peach crop was left to rot on the ground, while in other sections 

 they were commanding a high price. This is one of the big prob- 

 lems confronting the fruit grower. 



It has been often stated that if we were to eliminate the middle- 

 man, the problem of getting our produce to the consumer, with the 

 least amount of loss to both parties, would be solved. In some cases 

 no doubt this is true, but we must have some method of distribution 

 and where the middleman performs a service he is entitled to a fair 

 compensation for that work. As in most lines of business we have 

 the honest and the dishonest commission men; so have we the 

 honest and dishonest fruit growers. The barrel of apples with the 

 good ones on top and bottom, but with poor specimens in the middle 

 is still with us, and as long as this condition exists we should not 

 expect to have saints in the commission houses. 



