No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 345 



Jos^ Scale. Many trees have borne their last crop, and thousands 

 more are in their death agonies. In a very few years, unless the 

 farmer awakens to his duties, the orchards that existed upon every 

 farm and added so much to their attractiveness, as well as to the 

 pleasures of farm life, will be a thing of the past, and the farmer 

 will become a patron of the speciali&t who attends to the wants of 

 his trees, and his condition will be more deplorable than that of the 

 city man. After losing our possessions, we first realize their value 

 When the farmer's children beg for fruit, and he has none to give, 

 then will he first see his folly and short-sightedness. 



THE PEAR CROP 



Was below the average, except the Kieffer's, which were very plen- 

 tiful. There was so little demand for these inferior pears, that thou- 

 sands of bushels were left to rot, and thousands more sold so 

 low that they scarce paid for the handling. The only 

 remedy lies in better culture, close thinning and pruning, and 

 an abundance of the proper fertilizers. I think the Kieflfer is planted 

 rather more extensively than it should be, and the finer varieties, 

 like the Bartlett, the Seckel, the Aujou, etc., are too much neglected. 

 Prices for these finer varieties are steadily rising, owing to lack of 

 supply. 



PEACH. 



The crop was far below the average in quality and quantity in 

 most of the peach districts. Some orchards in the eastern and south 

 eastern counties of the State had very heavy crops of extra quality, 

 which brought very high prices, prices with me, the past season, 

 running from one dollar to three dollars, per half-bushel basket. 

 The manila or brown rot was very bad in some orchards, especially 

 with early varieties. In some instances, fully half the crop was 

 destroyed. With me the loss was very light, scarcely noticeable. 

 I believe the spraying with the lime and sulphur is a great factor in 

 preventing rot, by killing all spores while dormant, through winter 

 and early spring. It is also a specific for the peach leaf curl and other 

 fungus diseases. To be successful with peaches, none but hardy 

 types must be planted, pruned to low-spreading, open-headed trees, 

 that they get the full benefit of air and simshine. 



PLUMS. 



Crop very light and poor in quality. The Japan varieties are prov- 

 ing very unsatisfactory, owing to some natural weakness of the tree, 

 being very subject to the yellows, and other fungus disejLses. 



CHERRIES. 



Crop was a full one of good quality, and prices were very good, 

 considering the heavy crop. The sweet varieties should be more ex- 

 tensively planted, budded on Mazzard stock. The demand is rapidly 

 increasing for choice sweet cherries. 



All other fruit crops, including the berries, have been good and 

 profitable this year. And the general fruit raiser has just cause to 

 be very well satisfied with the financial results of his labor. 



The average fruit raiser should endeavor to improve the quality 

 of his fruit and put them in more attractive packages, wheo his rf - 

 ward will be greater. 

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