FRUIT C0M3IITTEE'S EEPORT. 31 



EEPOET OF THE COMMITTEE ON EEUITS. 



For the Year 1867. 

 by "w. c. strong, chaibman. 



It is a rare occurrence that a season may be called perfect for the de- 

 velopment of all the various kinds of fruit. So many conditions are 

 required, covering the cold of winter, the heat and moisture of summer, 

 the early and late frosts, the growth of previous years; so multiplied, 

 various and disconnected are the elements that we are accustomed to 

 expect unequal results. It is a reason for thankfulness that we have 

 such a variety in fruits, so distinct and independent that the abundance 

 of one crop may be a suj^ply for the want of another. With us a total 

 ftiilure is even more rare than perfect success. If we examine the record 

 of fruits exhibited before this Society for nearly two score years, we 

 shall find that, while the items vary, the tables are almost uniformly filled. 

 It is with greatest surprise that Ave note the conclusions of an eminent 

 cultivator '"after two years of travelling all over the Christian world, . , . 

 that America is the worst fruit-growing country in the world, excejit the 

 North of Europe." It is indeed true that, in this transition period of 

 exhaustion of our virgin soil and aridity of climate consequent upon the 

 wholesale destruction of our forests, together with a natural increase of 

 injurious insects, certain crops are not as spontaneous as in former years. 

 The peach will be recalled as a marked illustration of this fact. Yet if 

 we look on the encouraging side we shall find that every season of the 

 year is abundantly supplied with fruits of the highest known excellence, 

 so that we are rather inclined to say that exactly the reverse of Mr. Sar- 

 gent's proposition is true. Take the crops in their order. For forced 

 fruits, our clear bright sun more than counterbalances the extreme cold 

 of winter. With ease, almost amounting to certainty, we can produce 

 the best of forced fruits for the Spring months. Promptly in June comes 

 the inestimable Strawberry, no where surpassed, and never before 

 equalled in quantity. The small fruits which follow, the Easpberry, the 

 Currant, Blackberry and native Gooseberry all yield almost certain re- 

 turns for judicious culture. The Pear was never more abundant or 

 more easy of management. The successful example of several Apple 

 orchardists demonstrates that this standard fruit can be grown with en. 

 tire success even in the most infected districts. And for the life-invigor- 

 ating Grape, with all the drawbacks of rot and mildew and early frosts, 

 what can we say for the Grape? This we will say, that in this unprece- 

 dented year of rain, with complete failure in some localities, and with 



