SECRETARY'S REPORT. 259 



General Grant, bids fair to be a good stock getter. He was 

 brought into the county by the president of the society, and took 

 their premium of $75. Brood mares and colts were, as usual, 

 in number and- character much improved since they have been 

 out to these shows. It is to be hoped, where there are so few 

 horses in the county, that every chance of improvement will 

 be availed of. Vegetables and grains, at the hall, were of the 

 finest quality, although the past season has been one that will 

 long be remembered- by the farmer, as three distinct droughts, 

 of four to six months' duration, were encountered. Crops of all 

 kinds were much injured, as well as the hay-crop and grass for 

 fall feed, requiring cattle to be fed sooner than usual in the 

 fall ; but the quality of hay is much better than last year. 



Fruits were nearly a failure, from the many sudden changes 

 in the weather, except in two or three gardens, where the trees 

 were so thickly planted that they were not affected. Grapes 

 were blighted badly — the Delaware more than any. This blight 

 can be prevented, almost to a certainty, by the use of flour of 

 sulphur at the proper moment, — say just at the time the vines 

 are in bloom. From the 20th of June to the 10th of July, or 

 up to the 20th of July, they will blight. If the weather be dry 

 for ten days, or over, before the 20th of June, then a thunder 

 shower, or very hard rain comes on, and the sun comes out very 

 hot just after. I have never failed to prevent this mildew, by 

 the thorough application of sulphur while the vines are wet, and 

 i# another shower, the sulphur must be again thrown up under 

 • the leaves, and into the new forming bunches. Suppose it takes 

 five dollars worth of sulphur and saves five hundred dollars 

 worth of grapes. There are such numbers and varieties of 

 insects that attack the apple in tr^e and fruit in this county, 

 that its culture is nearly abandoned, except where hens and 

 other fowls are enclosed. Ten years ago there were not over fifty 

 fruit trees in the county ; now there are thousands, and this 

 increase has been induced by the agricultural society holding 

 public exhibitions. 



The number and ownership of thoroughbred stock in the 

 county are as follows ; all but one having been brought to 

 the island by James Thompson, president of agricultural 

 society: — 



