REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON FRUITS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1897. 



By E. ^Y. WOOD, Chairman. 



The fruit crop of the present year, as indicated by our exhibi- 

 tions, was below tlie average of the last few years. While there 

 was no absolute failure in any particular line of fruit, the natural 

 conditions were unfavorable for the best results. There was less 

 injury to the peach buds and to the strawberry, raspberry, and 

 blackberry plants than usual, but the excessive amount of moisture 

 and the limited amount of sunshine were unfavorable to the growth 

 and maturity of the small fruits. 



It being the off 3-ear for apples, the quantity sliown and the 

 quality of the exhilnts compared unfavorably with the preceding 

 year. The constant repetition of a biennial apple crop suggests 

 the effort to change the bearing year of a i)ortion of the orchard, 

 especially of the late varieties, which may be done b}' removing 

 the blossoms for two or three successive bearing years on young 

 or newly grafted trees. 



Seldom, if ever, has the pear crop been more abundant, and 

 except when carefully thinned the fruit was inferior in size and 

 quality. There was a large quantity of pears shown at the Annual 

 Exhibition, and while there were comparatively few specimens 

 deserving special mention, there were fewer than usual that did not 

 do credit to the growers and the Exhibition. 



Peaches were sliown in larger quantity than for several years. 

 Some exhibits were of superior qualitv, while others showed 

 unmistakable signs of being the product of diseased trees. 



Plums were fairly represented. The increase in the number and 

 quantity of Japanese varieties was especially noticeal)lc, and they 

 will doubtless prove a valuable addition to the list of plums here- 

 tofore under cultivation. 



