362 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft - . Doc. 



the destructive agent in all other varieties of pears, the Kieffer seems 

 to be the most exempt, and if some variety can be found hearty 

 enough to cross-fertilize the Kieft'er, abundant crops can be grown. 

 In its raw stale it does not compare favorably well with such varie- 

 ties as Bartlett, Seckel and a few others, but can easily be made into 

 a Bartlett; just grow them on a suitable soil and pick before fully 

 ripe and can, and you have a pear equal to the best Bartlett. 



Peaches. — Of this fruit a full crop was secured in most parts of 

 the State. The quality also was good; especially is this true where 

 growers kept their trees in a high state of cultivation and did not 

 allow their trees to overbear. In all such cases remunerative prices 

 were obtained. The late fungi, however, could not be entirely con- 

 trolled, as an excess of rain during the month of June and not 

 enough sunshine caused some of this fruit to rot. This was more 

 prevalent in some sections than in others. 



Plums. — As usual, the Japan varieties brought forth a fair crop, 

 while native varieties, as far as my knowledge goes, were almost 

 an entire failure. 



The Quince. — This fruit has almost been wiped out of existence by 

 blight. The few scattered trees brought forth a fine crop. 



Cherries. — It can be said that this fruit, especially the Morelloes 

 (sour varieties), Early Richmond and Montmorency, produced fair 

 crops and seem to hold the highest rank, being adapted to almost 

 any and all soils and locations. Sweet varieties seem more choicy 

 as to where they are planted. They are short-lived in valleys 

 or low grounds, but seem to thrive fairly well on elevated light, warm 

 soils. 



Grapes. — This fruit is not grown, commerciajly, in Pennsylvania, 

 excepting in the northern part of the State where the crop proves 

 quite satisfactory to its owners. Spraying is of even more im- 

 portance in growing this crop than in most other fruits. 



Small Fruits.— Of this crop w T e can say it was a money-maker. The 

 crop was an average one in most parts of the State and satisfactory 

 prices were secured. Mention must also be made as to spraying. The 

 small fruit growers must, in order to succeed, continually fight the 

 various insect pests. 



To sum up, I would say, the Pennsylvania fruit grower has no rea- 

 son to feel discouraged, even though all he hears, or nearly so, at our 

 horticultural meetings is about the various funguses, and more par- 

 ticularly about the San Jose Scale. This is all right; it sets us to 

 thinking and those who have thus far tried to grow fruit in Nature's 

 way ought to take the warning and put on their thinking caps and 

 a business coat and realize that the man who grows fruit is selling 

 his products at a profit, while the man who depends on nature to 

 grow his fruit generally finds no profit in the business. 



In conclusion, will say, since Nature does not grow profitable 

 crops any longer and since spraying must be thoroughly done, cut 

 down all trees that are of such varieties that their fruit crop does 

 not bring enough money, when marketed, to pay the bill; for unless 

 you destroy them they are a source of insect breeders, and while 

 they served a good purpose and supplied father and mother with 

 fruit, perhaps, all their lifetime and for that reason you leave 

 them stand. By all means honor your father and mother and spray 

 those trees thoroughly. 



