X BOAED OF AGRICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



tremelj profitable. Peaches were a fair crop in some sec- 

 tions and brought good prices. Pears were an average crop, 

 contrary to early indications. Plums were a light crop in 

 almost all sections. Grapes were a very heavy crop, and 

 secured without damage from frost. Cranberries were a 

 very light crop, owing to drought, frost and insect damage, 

 but have brought very high prices. 



Our horticulturists are urged to be on their guard against 

 the San Jose scale, now distributed in almost all sections, 

 and sure to be the destruction of an orchard where it is not 

 detected in its early stages. Another menace to the business 

 of orcharding, and one for which the State is directly re- 

 sponsible, is that from the wild deer, so common in many 

 fruit-growing sections. They do no damage to full-grown 

 trees, but in many sections it is impossible to set out young 

 fruit trees, except in immediate proximity to the farm build- 

 ings, with any expectation that they will not be browsed off 

 and killed by the deer. Our present orchards will not live 

 forever, and must be replaced ; but in many sections this 

 will be impossible, unless these animals are driven away or 

 destroyed. So many reports of such damage have come to 

 the Board that it seems as if those interested in fruit growing 

 should unite to secure legislation looking to an abatement of 

 this nuisance. 



Market gardeners were much less successful than usual 

 during the year. They generally secured fairly good crops, 

 heavy manuring and constant cultivation making up very 

 largely for the deficiency in the rainfall; but the prices 

 secured were never up to what might reasonably be expected. 

 This is attributed, by those best informed, to the effects of 

 the industrial depression, consumers apparently retrenching 

 by curtailing their consumption of the more expensive table 

 delicacies, thus producing an . oversupply and consequent 

 lower prices. The same situation must have prevailed to a 

 large extent in relation to the production of small fruits and 

 berries, but it did not come so immediately to our notice. 



Onions were a good crop, especially in the Connecticut 

 valley, and generally brought very good prices. Tobacco was 

 a good crop, but suffered severely from hail and wind damage 



