REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX FRUITS. 6 



years, as in former profusion, for several reasons. Most of our orchards 

 were seriously injured, some years since, by a peculiar and excessive 

 winter. It is a long process to re-establish a Cherry orchard, and our 

 cultivators have sought for quicker returns. The price of labor is 

 higher in our State than elsewhere, almost without exception through- 

 out the world, and our children are largely, not at work, but at school. 

 Consequently the lal)or of picking the Cherry is a serious drawback to 

 its profitable culture. Also we have been injudicious in the selection 

 of varieties, planting the most tender kinds and those most subject 

 to the curculio and the rot. But the Cherry can be grown to perfec- 

 tion — there is no inherent difficulty, we can, we do so grow it. Let us 

 do so more abundantly. 



Confessedly we have a genial soil for the Kaspberr}' and the Black- 

 berry. The autumn vigor of our canes indicates that the entire season 

 is favorable for the retention of foliage and the maturity of the fruiting 

 canes. The same may be said of the Currant. V>^e know that in some 

 sections of our countr}' the sun is too parching for the foliage of these 

 fruits ripens and drops long before the season is ended. With perfect 

 health, we invariably have the perfection of fruit upon our tables. 

 If it is asked why we have so little in quantit}', compared with the 

 hundreds of acres devoted to this purpose, in Vineland and other sections 

 south of us, we reply, confessing that there is a lack of enterprise in 

 this direction, among us. Other profitable employments and the high 

 price of labor hare diverted from this interest. But here again let all 

 our cultivators be assured there is no inherent difficulty, remunerative 

 crops are sure to follow skilful culture, independent of all competition 

 from without. 



Other sections can undoubtedly produce Grapes of better quality than 

 we. But varieties as hardy as the Concord produce abundantly and are 

 remunerative. Especially, earlj'- kinds, which come before the Catawba, 

 are profitable. We continue indeed to have upon our tables Isabellas 

 equal to any to be found elsewhere. But the growth is not spontaneous 

 and for profitable field culture we must rely as yet upon the Hartford 

 and Concord. The fact that one of your committee has, during the past 

 fall, extended his vineyard, by planting four acres with vines, is an indi- 

 cation that intelligent cultivators have confidence in the Grape, as a 

 source of profit. 



Of the Pear we speak with more confidence, and we do not hesitate to 

 difier from the conclusions of Mr. Houghton of Philadelphia, who, in a 

 recent essay, has pronounced Pear culture unsuccessful in the vicinity 

 of Boston. We think this is a great error. That there have been fail- 

 ures is not to be doubted. That many mistakes have been made, that 

 there has been mucli neglect, that great numbers of trees have died, is 

 beyond dispute. On the other hand we are bold to say that ^yi^e cult- 



