24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



A blight called twig blight, similar to that of the pear, is 

 often injurious in wet seasons, but seldom destroys more 

 than the end branches. The past season, which has been 

 unequalled in the past forty-eight years for moisture and 

 heat during July and August, has done great injury. A 

 well-drained soil and good cultivation are the best preven- 

 tatives. 



Of the varieties, the Old Orange still retains its place at 

 the head, Reas Mammoth is doing well in some localities, and 

 the Champion and Meeches Prolilic are promising, but re- 

 quire further test to prove their value. 



The Cherry. 



1875. No. of trees, 12,040 ; yield, 5,441 bush. ; value, $15,124. 

 1885. " " 36,643; " 5,030 " " 12,048. 



Although the number of trees has increased three-fold in 

 the past decade, the product has fallen off. There is no 

 fruit that is more delicious and healthful or more generally 

 liked ; but, unfortunately, our birds are as fond of them as 

 we are, and the difficulty we experience in securing our crop 

 from them, and the many insects that attack the tree and 

 fruit, have greatly discouraged their planting in large num- 

 bers in the orchard. 



The cherry succeeds best in a light, deep loam, and is 

 less liable to injury from cold if the roots are covered by 

 turf. The best trees we find now are those growing along 

 roadways, where brush and decaying leaves supply the 

 needed protection and plant food. In a rich, cultivated 

 soil the trunks are often split open by frosts in winter. The 

 plum curculio lays its eggs in the fruit, but may be destroyed 

 as recommended for the plum. Of the best varieties, I 

 would recommend Early Richmond, Yellow Spanish, Black 

 Tartarian, Gov. Wood and Downer's Late 



The Grape. 



1875. No. of vines, 224,352 ; yield, 672,590 lbs. ; value, $67,259. 

 1885. " " 356,553; " 2,975,824 " " 117,022. 



While grapes are being planted in this country by the 

 thousands of acres, there is little danger of an over-supply 



