REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1887, 



By E. W. WOOD, Chairman. 



The past 3'ear has been more than usually favorable for the 

 growth of our various fruits ; the frequent rains through the season 

 having kept vegetation in a constantly growing condition. Fruit 

 did not attain its full growth and maturity as early as in some 

 previous years, and the earlier exhibitions did not compare 

 favorably with those held in October and November. 



We have again to report a continued increase in the Apple crop 

 on the odd year. While formerly we were almost entirely depen- 

 dent upon other states in alternate 3'ears for this fruit, the prizes 

 have almost all been awarded the past season, and the suppl}' has 

 been fully equal to the demand for home consumption. This 

 change has been effected in some instances by the destruction of 

 the crop by canker worms for one or more years, and the trees 

 coming again into bearing on the odd instead of the even year ; 

 in other cases the crop was destroyed for a single year by late 

 frosts, causing a change in the bearing year. The crops of suc- 

 cessive years have thus become more evenly balanced, to the 

 advantage of both producer and consumer. 



. We have again had fair exhibits of Peaches. After four years 

 of barrenness, covering almost the ordinary lifetime of the peach 

 tree, many growersftiad failed to keep up their stock of trees and 

 neglected those they had ; yet the exhibits of this fruit were fair 

 in quantity and quality. Those who grow the peach under present 



