176 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Berlin and Deep River upwards of 25,000 trees, and 

 Messrs. Piatt and Barnes, in Cheshire, about 6,000. 



Extreme frost in winter killed all fruit buds in 1885 and 

 1886, and it was not until 1887 that the Glastonbury orchards 

 gave their first considerable crop. This attracted so much 

 attention as to encourage large plantings of the peach, espe- 

 cially in Hartford, New Haven and Middlesex counties, so 

 that in i8go there were about 200,000 peach trees in com- 

 mercial orchards of the state. The new enterprise was greatly 

 stimulated by a large crop of superb peaches in 1889, that 

 netted the growers from $3.50 to $5 per bushel. So great 

 had the interest now become in this practically new industry 

 that, for the purpose of information and protection, the first 

 meeting of Connecticut peach growers was held at State Capi- 

 tol, Hartford, February 11, i8gi. As an outgrowth of this 

 meeting, the Connecticut Pomological Society was organized. 



Besides the increased planting in commercial orchards, 

 there was also considerable peach planting in private gar- 

 dens. Under more or less unfavorable conditions, and with 

 indifferent culture, yellows quickly began to show itself, so, 

 for the protection of this new industry in the state and their 

 own financial investments, the Pomological Society author- 

 ized a committee to draft a law, and, if possible, secure its 

 passage by the General Assembly. By means of this law it 

 hoped to hold the yellows in check and, possibly, to wipe 

 it out, through the destruction of diseased trees and the 

 education and co-operation of tree owners. Michigan had 

 quite successfully fought the disease for twelve years, and, 

 to some extent, served as a model. 



The Legislature of 1893 passed the following: 



AN ACT 

 PROVIDING FOR A COMMISSION ON PEACH YELLOWS 



General Assembly, January Session, A. D. 1893. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and Hojise of Represetitatii'es in General 



Assembly convened : 



Section i. The State Board of Agriculture shall, within thirty days 

 from the passage of this act, appoint a Commissioner on Peach Yellows, 

 to hold office during the pleasure of said Board. Said Commissioner 

 may, with the approval of said Board and under the provisions of this act, 

 adopt and carry out such plans as may be deemed necessary for the eradi- 

 cation of the disease common to peach trees, known as peach yellows. 



