112 . | ANNUAL REPORT. ~ 
REPORT OF THE GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE, FIRST DISTR 
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To C. Y. . Lacy, Sec. State"Horticultural Society: ay 4 
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Climate and its Injuries. tanaer 
The lowest temperature at any time last winter ranged from eight to fourteen 
degrees below zero in different sections of the district, and continued at that but 
a few hours; and for weeks in succession did not drop down to zero. Little snow — 
fell at any time, and quickly disappeared. Thaws were frequent. The prevail- 
ing winds were south and southwest. Moisture was abundant in the earth, and 
air mists and fogs occurred frequently, and consequently trees, plants and vines 
that were reasonably hardy survived the winter with little or no protection. 
Some Philadelphia raspberries were injured on southern ‘exposures, probably 
from premature start in early spring. Sprig commenced to open very early, 
but received check from cold weather in April, and fruit trees were not in bloom 
much in advance of their usual time, and came forward very slowly. Severe 
frosts occurred on the mornings of May 11th, 12th and 13th, cutting the fruit 
badly on low grounds and in the valleys, but doing very little injury on the bluffs 
and high grounds. 
Blight, Insects, dc. 
Much less blight has occurred than for many years past. Insect ravages have 
not been as extensive as in some past years, but the canker worm is on the 
increase, also the steel blue grape beetle. Birds were very plenty and very 
destructive to the fruit. Field mice and rabbits are a great pest, and at this 
time are making fearful havoc with the young forest and orchard trees. 
Apples and Crab Apples. 
The average apple crop was nearly as good as on any previous year, as the 
trees on the bluffs and ridges bore to their fullest capacity, making up for the 
deficiency in the valleys. The varieties that have come under my notice as fruit- 
ing the best are Duchess of Oldenburgh, St. Lawrence, Price’s Sweet, Haas, 
Fameuse, Red Astrachan, Fall Stripe, Jeniton, Talman Sweet, Alexander, 
Sops of Wine, and some varicties of seedlings. In some cases the Russets bore 
well, but generally were shy in bearing. Ben Davis is doing well on some of 
the ridges. Crabs and Siberians have not done as well as in former years. The 
blight seems to have checked their fruitfulness and somewhat affected the quality 
of the fruit. Hyslops were fair, but the Transcendent seems to bring the best 
returns. The new varieties have not done well enough so far to create any great 
sensation. Apple trees made a fair and apparently healthy growth, and the fall 
being rather dry and frosts holding off late, except on very rich and low grounds, 
they have generally matured their wood, and are apparently in good condition 
to survive a hard winter, unless there may oceur injury to the roots in sandy and 
gravelly soils from lack of moisture. The prospect seems to be good for a medium 
crop next season. The trees that were severely injured in the winter of 1872 
and 1873, continue on the decline, and will soon all have perished, but the 
orchards planted since that date are doing well and look promising. The num- 
ber of trees planted last spring exceeds that of previous springs for several years. 
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