Part I. 



GENERAL ANNALS. 



Fruits, Vegetables and General 

 Interests. 



The crops of 1891 have been a marked contrast to those of 

 1890. Last year was one of general failure in regions east 

 of the Rocky Mountains, but this year has given large crops 

 of unusally good quality. In most regions the weather has 

 been propitious. The season was unusually dry except in 

 the extreme northwest and the northern Pacific coast region, 

 but horticultural crops suffered little. The general tempera- 

 ture record is also somewhat below the average for the grow- The year, 

 ing months. Late frosts injured the peaches, grapes and 

 small fruits in some parts of the eastern states, but the damage, 

 except in restricted localities, does not appear to have been 

 great. The country as a whole has been comparatively free 

 from insect and fungous attacks. The condition of our horti- 

 cultural interests has never been better than at present. 

 Prices have been good as a rule, and products have reached 

 the market in good condition. The winter of 1890-1 was 

 steady and cold enough to bring fruit-trees to the bloom- 

 ing season in good and timely condition. The crops in 

 Europe, however, have been for the most part poor or indiffer- 

 ent. This is especially true of apples, and the shortage has 

 had the effect of holding up the prices on the heavy American 

 exportations. The European grape crop is suffering more 

 seriously year by year from the devastations of phylloxera and 

 fungous troubles. The plum and pear crops of Europe are 

 reported as fair to good. 



The apple crop of 1891 was good, although not heavy in 

 most parts of the country. The extent of the crop is indica- 

 ted by the export trade, which is nearly three times heavier 



(7) 



