VICE-PRESIDENT S REPORT, FIFTH CONG. DISTRICT. 67 



VICE-PRESIDENT'S REPORT, FIFTH CONG. DIST. 



R. A. WRIGHT, EXCELSIOR. 



The fruit crop in this district the past season as a whole has 

 been very good. There have been some drawbacks, however, such 

 as winter-kilHng, owing to the severity of the weather, and diffi- 

 culty in harvesting and marketing the fruit, because of frequent 

 rains. 



Excelsior and vicinity produced about one-half crop of straw- 

 berries, the shortened crop being the result of root-killing the pre- 

 vious winter. A peculiar feature was shown in beds that were not 

 covered producing as abundantly as those that were well covered. 

 Raspberries yielded a good crop. Currants and gooseberries gave 

 an average yield. Blackberries bore heavily and brought good 

 prices. Grapes set well and promised a good yield, but on account 

 of so much rain mildew set in, which ruined the Delawares, except 

 in a few cases where spraying had been carefully and thoroughly 

 done. Concords did some better, but were of an inferior quality, 

 some of them not being harvested. 



The apple crop was good, the Wealthy and Duchess taking the 

 lead as usual. Crabs were very light, the past two seasons being 

 unfavorable for them on account of the cool and wet weather. 

 There was no blight this season to speak of. 



The Gideon orchard produced over 3,000 bushels of apples this 

 season, including the finest Wealthy I ever saw. Under Mr. 

 Getchell's supervision the orchard is doing finely. 



The winter of 1903 was severe on tender varieties, including the 

 Ben Davis, which was nearly annihilated. Young trees on tender 

 roots were badly injured. 



Plums yielded heavily and were of good size and quality. The 

 Surprise heads the list. Cherry trees are badly injured or killed, 

 excepting the Compass, which came through all right and yielded 

 fairly well. 



The prospects for next season are good, excepting with the 

 strawberry, which promises about two-thirds of a crop. 



Long Lake and vicinity report strawberries a half crop ; rasp- 

 berries exceedingly good ; currants and gooseberries an average 

 yield. The apple crop was heavy, except in a few cases where they 

 were injured by the hailstorm in blooming time. The fruit of some 

 orchards was gnarly and imperfect for want of proper spraying. 

 Plums were a good crop, being large, fine and of a good quality, 

 and damaged very slightly by curculio. Cherry trees were mostly 

 killed by the winter. Peach and pear trees, although well covered, 

 were killed. Many young orchards were badly injured. 



