48 



a whole have been about 20 per cent higher this season than 

 in 1912, berries which sold for from 15 to 20 cents last year 

 bringing from 17 to 25 cents this year. 



Summer Spraying. 



The rej)lies to the question as to the extent of summer 

 spraying for sooty fungus and other fruit diseases revealed 

 practically the same facts as were brought out in relation to 

 orchard cultivation, namely, that the majority of fruit grow- 

 ers do not as yet realize the value of the results secured by 

 this practice. Some reported that there was " no time and 

 labor was high ; " others reported " to a limited extent." The 

 indications are, however, that although comparatively few 

 growers now spray for these diseases during the summer, the 

 practice is growing in favor as its results are demonstrated 

 by the few, and it will eventually receive the attention it 

 deserves. 



NOTES OF FRUIT CROP CORRESPONDENTS. 



[Returned to us June 26.] 



Berkshire County. 



Richmond (Henry J. Lajike). — Frost has damaged fruits as 

 follows: apples, 80; pears, 90; plums, 50; small fruits, normal, ex- 

 cept strawberries, which M'ere damaged 75 per cent. Five per cent 

 of the blossoms on tree fruits have set; there has been very little 

 drop as there was not much to drop. Fruit crop prospect: apple, 

 25 ; pear, 10 ; plum, 25 ; currant, 100 ; raspberry, 100 ; blackberry, 

 100. Grass is removed from the orchard whenever there is enough 

 to pay for cutting. Fire blight is doing some damage. The straw- 

 berry crop was damaged 75 per cent by frosts; there are very few 

 strawberries raised for market. There is very little spraying done, 

 as nobody has the time and labor is high. 



North Egremont (R. Henry Race). — Frost has damaged the dif- 

 ferent crops as follows: apples, 90; pears, 50; peaches, 100; plums, 

 100; cherries, 100; strawberries, 50. Tree fruits did not set well; 

 there has been no fruit to drop. Crop prospect: apple, total loss; 

 pear, 50; peach, plum and cherry, practically a total loss; currant, 

 100; raspberry, 100; blackberry, 100; blueberry, very serious dam- 

 age. The best orchards are cultivated; some are in sod; clean cul- 

 ture is practiced in a few orchards, but most of the orchards are 

 neglected; legumes are used more or less as cover crops. San Jose 



