42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



hardly expect to keep them a great many years, — not more 

 than eight or ten on an average. 



Fourth, " Is there any sure and available method of pre- 

 venting the attacks of borers upon peach trees in gardens ? " 

 I know of no certain way except by careful examination. 

 An examination in June and again in August, if thoroughly 

 made, will prevent injury by the borer. 



Sixth, " Are there any varieties of peaches that are 

 hardy and bear every year?" Probably not. The buds of 

 all varieties that we know of are injured by severe cold. 



Seventh, " Which are the best three varieties for this 

 State?" It is very difficult to say. We have grown so few 

 peaches that we do not know which would be the most prof- 

 ital)le. One year one variety perhaps produces more than 

 another ; the next year another variety is more prolific. 

 Among the early varieties the Amsden, Alexander, Waterloo, 

 and Early Canada, are hardy trees and they produce as much 

 as any. The Early and Late Crawford are valuable, but all 

 trees of the yellow varieties are tender. The Old Mixon, 

 a white-flesh peach, is one of the oldest varieties and very 

 hardy and productive. The Mountain Rose is also desirable. 



Eighth, " My winter pears do not ripen well ; how can I 

 ripen them? They shrivel and are woody." There are 

 very few winter pears which ripen well under ordinary treat- 

 ment. Perhaps the best way is to keep them in a cool, 

 moist atmosphere, and at the time of ripening bring them 

 into a warm, dry atmosphere. 



Mr. Cruikspiank. I Avould like to inquire of Prof. ^lay- 

 nard if he knows any remedy for a disease in the apple tree 

 known, in the northern part of Worcester County, as the 

 canker. It will appear on a liml) here and there throughout 

 a tree. The bark will crack and turn black, and eventually 

 the tree will die back to the stump. It is very seriously 

 aflecting a great many trees in the northern i)art of the 

 county. I will say that it comes upon otherwise healthy 

 trees. There will be a healthy growth of the rest of the 

 tree, but these infected limbs will be found here and there, 

 throughout the tree. 



Prof. Maynard. I have noticed in connection with this 

 disease, which attacks trees generally where they are per- 



