ANNUAL REPORT^ I906, VICE-PRES.^ FIFTH CONG. DIST. 1 37 



ANNUAL REPORT, 1906, VICE-PRESIDENT, FIFTH 

 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



HENRY HAGGARD, EXCELSIOR. 



As the growing season of 1906 opened, it became evident that 

 raspberry canes of the more tender varieties had suffered severely 

 from winter-kilHng. The King and the Ironclad in most instances 

 escaped without serious injury. Many jfields of strawberries were 

 badly injured, and in some cases tender varieties of grapes were 

 damaged. But little damage to apple trees has been reported, al- 

 though in some cases the leaves hung on late last fall. 



Many growers attribute the killing of raspberry canes to a long 

 warm spell in February, when the ground was bare, followed by 

 severe freezing weather. I am inclined to think that an important 

 factor was the unripe condition of the canes at the beginning of 

 winter and am strengthened in this view by the fact that in my own 

 neighborhood, fields that were well-cultivated until late in the fall, 

 thus inducing late growth, were badly injured, while other fields of 

 the same varieties that had been neglected and were overrun with 

 weeds and grass, but had ceased growing early in the season, bore 

 abundantly. 



Reports from various parts of the district indicate a yield vary- 

 ing from one-fourth to one-half a crop of all kinds, with the ex- 

 ception of blackberries, which bore a medium crop. 



Apples. Very few young trees bore. A few orchards of old 

 trees bore some fruit, the Wealthy being the most abundant bearer 

 in most cases. I noticed a large per cent of apples were gnarly, 

 even where sprayed. Very frequent showers during the spraying 

 season may have been the cause. Very little blight this year. None 

 in many orchards. 



Crabs bore a light crop, and many varieties were affected by a 

 leaf blight or rust, causing the leaves to fall early in the season and 

 giving the trees a sickly, ragged look. Such trees can hardly be in 

 good condition for next year's growth. 



Spraying is not universally practiced in any locality, and but 

 little or none is done in some places. Some of my correspondents 

 claim that only those who spray get good fruit. 



Trees made a good growth and are generally in a good condi- 

 tion, though I have one or two reports of wood not ripe. 



Plums. A few report a good crop, others a total failure, but 

 the majority of growers had a light crop with much plum rot. Trees 

 are in good condition. 



Cherries. Not generally raised. Crop light or none. Blight 



