382 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



HOW CAN THIS BE CHANGED? 



While attending farmers' institutes, I find the people arc anxious 



for any informal ion that will bettor their condition, and they take 

 kindly to the idea of fruit raising and endeavor to obtain all (he 

 knowledge possible. But like all new departures, it lakes careful 

 handling to shed the proper amount of light. Yet I fully impress 

 upon them the importance of going into it intelligently, letting them 

 understand that success depends upon careful selection of varieties, 

 fertilization, pruning and tillage. I believe I have, in the counties 

 gone through, started the germ, that if it be properly nurtured, would 

 convert these now almost useless hills into a veritable Garden of 

 Eden. 



But it is a deplorable fact that the great State of Pennsylvania 

 which takes such kindly interest in nearly all of her industries, ap- 

 propriating thousands of dollars for buildiug up and maintaining 

 them, has made no provision for the building up of the horticultural 

 interests. 



They have created the office of Pomologist, the emoluments of 

 which is honor, empty symbols of sounding brass, for which the in- 

 cumbent is supposed to devote days of his time answering hundreds 

 of long letters of inquiry, furnishing his own stationery and having 

 the pleasure of paying postage from his own pocket. Why is there 

 not a Department of Horticulture or some provision made that the 

 Pomologist can do honor and justice to his office. When the needy 

 ask for advice why should they be turned down for lack of funds, 

 when the banks are speculating with millions of State funds. 



THE PEACH. 



It is only within the last decade that Pennsylvania has gained anj 

 prominence in the production of this most delicious of all fruits. 

 Maryland and Delaware were looked upon as the great peach-pro- 

 ducing states, but a new era has come and Pennsylvania steps to 

 the front as a peer to all other states in producing in quantity and 

 quality, second to none and superior to the majority. Peach 

 orchards are being planted in nearly every part of the State. There 

 are many failures as this is a fruit that will not thrive under neg- 

 lect. But where planted and intelligently cultivated they are bring- 

 ing their owners princely incomes. 



The peach requires different treatment from the apple and pear, 

 being more tender, more subject to fungus diseases, requiring more 

 cultivation, more pruning, less nitrogenous and more mineral ele- 

 ments of fertility, but space does not permit to enter. 



THE PEAR 



Is holding its own as a profitable crop in Pennsylvania. I am sorry 

 that a great many of the finer pears are being dropped from the list, 

 from various causes, and the oriental varieties are superceding them, 

 being less susceptible to insect depredation, more productive, conse- 

 quently more profitable. I feel that the man who has the courage 

 to set out a Bartlett pear orchard and tend to it intelligently will 

 have a bananza in a few vears. 



