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failure occur only once in seven years, they will find themselves 

 amply compensated. 



In the course of our enquiries into these matters, other suggestions 

 with regard to protection against frost, have been presented to your 

 committee, but they do not deem them of sufficient importance to be 

 now presented to this Congress. 



Your committee must further state that the almost incredible im- 

 provement produced by judicious cultivation on the Peach and Straw- 

 berry, coming under their immediate notice, as such, they cannot 

 with propriety pass them by in silence. In the orchard of Mr. Geo. 

 W. mggs, the system of shortening in and thinning by hand, with 

 the application of manure and a free use of the plough, have produ- 

 ced such improvement in his crop of peaches, that during the glut in 

 our market in 1848, when a great portion of the fruit could not be 

 consumed, his peaches found regular purchasers at two dollars per 

 basket, whilst the average price did not exceed 25 to 40 cents per 

 basket. 



Your committee are of opinion that whenever the system is pro- 

 perly pursued, the labor and expense will meet an ample remunera- 

 tion. 



It is also a well known fact, that whilst bushels of strawberries are 

 to be had in our market at 6 to 8 cents per quart, some cultivators 

 have been able to get 50 cents per quart for the finest specimens. 



JOSHUA PIERCE, 

 Chairman of the committee of the District of Columbia, .» 



. VIRGINIA. 



REPORT OF YARDLEY TAYLOR. 



Loudon County, Fa., 9th mo. 18M, 1849. 

 Not being able myself to attend the sittings of the Congress of 

 Fruit Gro'vvers this year, I still feel a deep interest in its proceedings, 

 and am willing to aid, as far as I am able, the objects of the Conven- 

 tion. One of these objects, and a very important one to nurserymen 

 and fruit growers, is the knowledge of the best varieties suited to 

 particular localities, or for general cultivation. This part of Virginia 

 is about latitude 39° 10", and in elevation about 500 feet above tide. 



