195 



orcliard^; his own, however, Lad escaped, through his special caret i J* 

 protecting the birds. Illinois rei)orts a large increase of bloom, but cut 

 down by frost to an average. The cnrculio and caterpillar are reported 

 as mischievous at a few points. In Michigan and Wisconsin crop pros- 

 pects are full average, though retarded by lateness of the season. The 

 severity of the winter seems to have had the good effect of destroying 

 insects, none having been reported. 



West of Mississippi Eiver, the apple bloom was very full, and the con- 

 dition of the crop is excellent, Kansas, especially, reporting an improve- 

 ment of 21 per cent. The apple crop is safe in Dona ACa County, New 

 Mexico, but was deficient in bloom in Beaver County, Utah. On the 

 Pacific coast, the condition of the crop was depreciated 10 per cent, in 

 California, and 21 per cent, in Oregon, by cold and frost, assisted in one 

 county by caterpillars. ^ 



Peaches. — At the date of our report the peach had only begun to bloom 

 in the northern New England States, yet in several counties a full 

 average condition was observed, and in one instance an improvement 

 of 10 per cent. Massachusetts reports one county in which the bloom 

 was but one-tenth and the condition of the crop three-tenths of an 

 average. All the other counties reported, however, show a full average 

 with a very considerable improvement. Ehode Island declines, about 

 two-tenths in bloom and in condition of the peach crop, while Connecti- 

 cut reports an improvement of 21 per cent, in the former and 13 per 

 cent, in the latter. 



The peach crop of the Middle States is slightly below average, both 

 in bloom and condition, Delaware showing a decline of 34 per cent, of 

 the former and 42 of the latter. In none of these States is there any 

 mention of insect depredations, the extreme cold of last winter having 

 been fatal to those pests. 



In the Southern Atlantic States the crop appears to be nearly an 

 average, the only serious decline being in Maryland, where the con- 

 dition of the crop is 11 per cent, below average. In this State the 

 drought has brought out the curculio, and the caterpillar is also active 

 in some localities. In some parts of Virginia late and heavy frosts have 

 either partially or wholly swept the crop, but in other localities it is 

 full and promising. In N^rth Carolina peaches are above average both 

 in bloom and condition. In South Carolina, while the general condition 

 of the crop is somewhat above average, the fruit is reported in some 

 instances as falling from the trees. In Georgia, while the serious effects 

 of cold and drought are acknowledged in some quarters, the especial im- 

 provement in others brings the crop to nearly a full average. The 

 peach is below average in condition in all of the Gulf States except 

 Texas. The curculio is reported in Louisiana, but ihe general com- 

 plaint is of unfavorable weather. In Texas several counties report 

 the crop as superior in quality though deficient in quantity. In 

 Arkansas and Tennessee the season is generally reported favorable for 

 peach-culture, both States reporting a very considerable improvement 

 both in bloom and condition. Kentucky show^s a decreased bloom but 

 an improved condition. In some cases the crop was swept by late frosts. 

 In West Virginia the crop is 28 per cent, below^ par, the fruit being 

 largely winter-killed. 



North of the Ohio the peach crop is. very unpromising, except in Illi- 

 nois, where the bloom is estimated at 17 per cent, and the condition of 

 the crop 14 per cent, above average. Ohio reports but 35 jjer cent, of 

 average bloom, and but 57 per cent, of average condition. In Indiana 

 the figures under these heads, respectively, are 87 and OC. Michigan 



