SIXTRENTII ANNUAL MlillTlNG. 7 



among farmers was more imperative. Let us hold fast to 

 what we have gained and prepare (nn-selves for future de- 

 N'clnpments. 



To the Connecticut fruit grower the season of 1906 

 was one of part success and part failure. Successful, as 

 regards the peach and berry crops, more or less of a failure 

 with the apple and some of the other tree fruits. A very 

 satisfactory peach crop was harvested under excellent con- 

 ditions and sold at generally satisfactory prices. Small fruits 

 yielded well and found a ready market. The ap])le crop, 

 owing to unfavorable conditions following the blooming sea- 

 son, was extremely light, except in the eastern portion of the 

 state, and plums were almost a total failure. While most 

 conditions governing the production of fruits are within the 

 control of the grower, those of climate and sudden changes 

 of temperature are as yet beyond his skill. 



Having always to fight for what they produce, our growers 

 are now reckoning with an enemy worse than all others — tJic 

 Sail Jose Scale — which is spreading with an alarming increase 

 over the orchards and gardens of the state. Few, if any, fruit 

 trees or ornamentals seem to be safe from the attacks of this 

 pest. While the owner of large orchards, who gives his entire 

 attention to the culture of fruit crops, may not be alarmed by 

 the advent of the scale, still to the small grower or the man 

 who values the fruit trees in his garden or about his home, the 

 situation is alarming, for he must very soon find that unless 

 prompt measures are taken his trees will be doomed. 



No one who has a real love for fine fruits can lielp l)ut feel 

 some regret for the loss of the splendid old trees, especiallv of 

 apple, that have so long been a feature on our farms and about 

 our homes. These will soon be a tiling of the past unless some 

 unforeseen force stays the march of the scale. Without doubt 

 the coming of the scale is affecting a great change in fruit- 

 growing methods and some o/^finiists tell us it is a cliange for 

 the better. It is certainly forcing all who would produce good 

 fruit to take up the matter of spraying, and generally to give 

 better care to their trees, and tliis leads to otlier good results 

 besides killing the scale. But all this increases the cost of 

 production and consumers must expect to pay more for their 



