FRUIT REPORTS. 
227 
VERMONT. 
BY D. C. HICKS, NORTH CLARENDON, CHAIRMAN. 
Vermont is divided by natural barriers (Green Mountain range) into thrte 
fruit sections, namely the Champlain Valley, Connecticut Valley and Menr- 
pliramagog Valley, which rank in importance in the order named. In the two 
first sections nearly all of the standard tree and cane fruits of New. England 
and New York can be grown, while in the more northerly section (Memphra- 
magog) only the hardiest varieties of the same succeed. 
The orchard fruit Industry is the most extensive in the lower Champlain 
Valley, including Grand Island county and the towns of Addison, Chittenden 
and Franklin counties, adjacent to the lake; here are found the largest orch- 
ards of the State, from one to three thousand trees. There are also a few 
large orchards in the other sections, notably those of Dr. Hoskins at Newport 
and A. A. Halladay at Bellows Falls. The area devoted to small fruits in the 
State is not large and is mostly confined to the immediate vicinity of cities 
and larger villages, the largest being in the Connecticut River valley. 
The soil of this section is a sandy loam and well adapted to the growing of 
these fruits. 
The soil of the State varies somewhat, but in all sections may be found 
areas of strong lime loam soil, which, in a well drained condition, is one of 
the best for all kinds of fruits; in the Champlain valley many of the orchards 
are planted on clay loam and in the southeastern part of the State on black 
slate land. 
Elevation — We find the orchards of the State growing at all elevations from 
100 to 1,500 feet above the sea level. The large orchards of the Champlain 
section are on slight elevations above the lake level, generally one to three 
hundred feet, while in the Connecticut River section, the best soils for tree 
planmig, will be found at a considerably higher elevation on the ridges be- 
tween the tributary streams. The price of good orchard land varies according 
to the location, from $40.00 to $100.00 per acre, and that of the best bearing 
orchards from $150.00 to $250.00 per acre. 
4. Irrigation — This is not practiced to any extent as yet; the few instances 
that have come under my notice have been the irrigation of small fruit plan- 
tations and the water has been secured through ditches or pipes from springs 
and streams at higher levels. 
5. Cultivation— This is practiced in the large commercial orchards and 
crops used are clover, beans, peas, millet and buckwheat. Winter cover 
crops have not been much experimented with, although the plan seems a 
good one to retain moisture and secure a more even frost temperature in the 
root soil. In a few cases good results have been obtained from a mulch of 
coarse hay or leaves. 
6. Fertilizers — Barnyard manure; potash, in hardwood ashes and muriate; 
and ground bone; with an occasional crop of clover or buckwheat plowed 
under are the sources used to furnish the needed fertility and their use is 
considered profitable. 
Insects and Diseases— The most troublesome insects are the tent and forest 
tree caterpillars, codling moth and bud moth, borer and railroad worm. Of 
diseases, pear, plum and apple blight, black knot, canker and anthracnose. 
A remedy has been found for all insects, except the borer and railroad worm, 
