No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 541 



titj. A comparison with reports of previous years regarding most 

 profitable varieties indicates that the Kieffer is not as popular as 

 formerly among commercial growers. Clapp's Favorite and Seckel 

 stand next to Bartlett and Kieffer as money makers. 



As to whether pear culture is a profitable industry in Pennsylva- 

 nia, seven-eights of the correspondents take a negative position. 

 One prominent pear grower blames the Kieffer for this state of 

 affairs and this variety, no doubt, deserves much of the blame. Twig 

 blight is really the greatest barrier to pear culture. No spray or 

 application of any kind will prevent or remedy this disease and its 

 control is very uncertain, so that growers hesitate about making 

 large plantations. Of course much can be done to check or prevent 

 its ravages by inducing only a moderate wood growth instead of a 

 vigorous development of wood, and by removing and destroying in- 

 fested parts as soon as discovered. The San Jose" Scale is a serious 

 but controllable menace to pear culture in our State. 



PEACHES. 



The 1905 peach crop was much more generally successful than 

 either apples or pears. The majority of growers report excellent 

 yields while some refer to the crop as large or very large. Failures 

 and short yields of peaches were the exception rather than the rule. 

 Conditions were quite generally favorable, although brown rot was 

 very destructive in some sections. The failures reported were due 

 to the winter-killing of fruit buds, spring frosts, San Jose" Scale and 

 the yellows. 



There seems to be considerable fluctuation in the minds of our 

 correspondents regarding the profits of peach culture. Only a year 

 ago there was a decided negative declaration in reply to the question: 

 "Is peach culture profitable in your county." This year nearly all 

 the writers who attempt to answer the question assert that the busi- 

 ness is profitable. Reports indicate that the ravages of the yellows 

 are on the decrease and this is very encouraging to peach growers. 

 The San Jose" Scale is doubtless the greatest pest of our peach 

 orchards. 



PLUMS. 



Only four growers report large yields of plums the past season. 

 The majority of the reports indicate a very light crop over most of 

 the State. Conditions were not generally favorable for this fruit. 

 The curculio is the most destructive enemy, although the San Jose" 

 Scale is playing havoc with many trees. Severe winters, spring 

 frosts, black knot, blights and rot are mentioned as serious obstacles 

 to the business. 



There is a great diversity of opinion as to the desirability of the 

 Japanese plums. The weight of the testimony is in favor of this 

 class, although a number of growers condemn them for commercial 

 purposes. The European varieties are more certain of satisfactory 

 results. Several neAV varieties are mentioned, but no particular 

 sort seems to be receiving special attention. D. 0. Young, of Mc- 

 Kean county, mentions Sultan and Burbank as worthy of cultivation. 



QUINCES. 



The quince is of little commercial importance in our State. Three- 

 fourths of the correspondents think the outlook for quince culture 



