:e^:k]:ro:f^t 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON ERUITS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1873. 



BY EGBERT MANNING, Chairman. 



The most prominent characteristics of the past fruit season have 

 been the drought, commencing the latter part of May and continuing 

 for nearly two months, of such severity as is rarely experienced so 

 early in the season ; and the unprecedentedly abundant and excel- 

 lent crop of pears. 



The winter of 1872-73 was not exempt from the usual "cold 

 snaps " and sudden changes of our climate. On Christmas morn- 

 ing, Dec. 25, 1872, the thermometer fell to 10° below zero, and 

 for about ten mornings it averaged below zero. On the morning of 

 Jan. 30, 1873, it fell to 15° below zero, rising the next day to 

 15° above zero. On the 3d of May, snow fell to the depth of 

 about two inches, but it was not supposed, at the time, to have 

 injured the fruit buds, and this supposition proved correct ; neither 

 did any injury accrue to the fruit crop from the previously men- 

 tioned cold weather, except to the peach trees, the fruit buds of 

 which were, in most places, wholly killed. The effect of the 

 drought was most disastrous on the crop of strawberries, reducing 

 it, as it is estimated, about one half; but the same drought was 

 favorable to the soundness of the abundant crop of cherries. 

 Beyond the few points mentioned, we are unable to trace any con- 

 nection between the peculiarities of the season and of the fruit 

 crop. 



Strawberries. — The exhibitions of forced strawberries have 

 been more extensive than heretofore, the first being March 1st, 

 by J. B. Moore. On the 14th of June, Charles Garfield exhibited 



