fully as possible upon this subject; since that time there has been little or no appreciable change that is worthy of note. The statistics embodied in our report at the last annual meeting were largely obtained from the recent census. However, for the purpose of refreshing our memories on the subject of the live stock population, we will copy from last report the numbers of the different kinds of live stock with the valuations, as estimated for the year 1900: 788,000 horses (over two-thirds of which $59,100,000 61,167 mules (nearly two-thirds of which The The continued and, indeed, increasing scarcity of horses in our city markets, together with the increased demand, we think would warrant us in placing their valuation from $5 to $10 higher than stated in last report. This would indicate that there was an opportunity for the farmer who is personally qualified and properly located, to do well raising such as the market demands. The automobile, though rapidly increasing in numbers, does not displace the most desirable classes of horses for the farmer to raise. heavy trucks or drays have as yet defied the skill of the manufac turers of "autos," but they still demand the services of the large well-developed Percheon or Clyde, at good paying prices—say from $400 to $700 per pair. Then the high-acting hackney or cob, and the French coacher, that will meet the demands of the critical fancier, are in good demand at high prices, for park and pleasure driving in all of our large cities and their suburbs. This class calls for a horse about fifteen and a half hands high, or over, and weighing about eleven hundred or twelve hundred pounds, of compact form, sound barrel, full breast, strong slanting shoulder, and well developed thigh, good bone, bold head and neck, of good carriage and action, strong legs and feet; and if he is sound, not blemished, and has the proper action and gait, he can enter a class that demand the highest prices, ranging from $400 to $300 per pair; his value being measured by conformation, style and action at a five or ten mile gait, rather than by speed. Animals bred with this market in view who do not fill the measure of the high priced buyer, are well suited for farm work or city delivery wagons, and will find a ready market at fair prices, when five or six years old. 4-7-1902 We feel that the raising of horses for the present market is not a lottery, if the demands of the market are understood, and the breeder carefully considers which breed or class he is best adapted to handling, and makes the selection accordingly. The old, slipshod, objectless course can be followed by nothing but failure and disappointment. The steady stream of dairy cows coming into our State from surrounding territory, amounting annually to about $720,000, serves as a constant reminder that there is a counter-current of hardearned dollars, leaving the pockets of the dairymen to pay for the rearing of these animals on lands probably no better adapted to the purpose, and just as expensive, as ours; and to this we must add the charges of transportation, and the profit which goes to the middleman. Now if it pays the farmers of neighboring States to raise cows and send them here at the prices they receive, will it not pay us to raise our own, and have recruits for our dairies that have not been exposed to possible injuries and infection incident to transportation, which so often result seriously to our herds. Let us calculate a moment: Suppose the average dairy life of a cow to be six years, (and I find by inquiry it is reckoned anywhere from four to eleven years), it would be necessary, in order to replenish a herd of twenty-four cows, to raise four calves per year, or buy four cows per year, as you prefer. If the calf is one suitable to raise for the dairy, it is worth $3.00 at three days old, or when the mother's milk is fit for market. Then, allowing the food to cost five cents per day until the calf is grown to a heifer two years old, when if properly cared for she will be about ready to take a place in the dairy, she will have cost $39.00; and if she has been carefully selected from parents known to possess good dairy qualities, we have every reason to expect as good a yield of milk the first year as the drove cow that has been subjected to shipping abuses, just at a time and in a condition when she should receive the best and most tender care, and at last landed in a strange home amidst new surroundings, where she is expected to give a profitable yield of milk. A cow obtained under these conditions will cost as many dollars, and generally more, than the cow that has been reared on the premises where she is expected to do her work, and where she can be guarded from disease, with the advantage of age in her favor; for the second year she must do better than the first. There may be farms upon which the raising of calves is not convenient or profitable, but we believe the percentage of such is very small. There are not many farmers that do not have some rough pasture land where growing calves can be profitably kept. We believe, also, that if this course was adopted more generally throughout the State, the State Live Stock Sanitary Board would find the task of keeping out disease a very much easier one, and that the work would be followed by much more prompt and effective results, with less loss. It is a fact that where herds have been tested and found free from tuberculosis they have universally been raised on the farm where they are spending their useful lives, and the custom of buying drove cattle to replenish the herds has not been practiced. The necessity for raising our own supply in order to prevent the importation of disease onto our premises is just as applicable to our pigs as to our dairy cattle; for hog cholera has caused a greater percentage of loss to the farmers of Pennsylvania than has any other disease our stock is subject to. The live stock industry is the base of all agricultural operations, and should receive our most careful attention. Without the medium of our domestic animals what could we do with our crops? If not converted into marketable products by the agency of livestock they would avail us nothing. The animals are the manufacturers which convert the raw material in the form of crops into marketable commodities. They are to the farmer what the loom is to the weaver, and we can no better than he afford to operate a inachine that will not turn out a profitable amount of manufactured goods for the market, be it in the form of dairy products, fat, growth or work. What is more discouraging and proütless than to feed an animal all winter with food that cost dollars to grow and harvest, and find in the spring that it will not bring one dollar more than it would have brought in the fall, without the feed and work bestowed upon it. Now this is an expensive way of getting manure and fertility, and yet herds frequently contain cows of this sort. The question naturally arises, "What is the cause; to be followed by another, what is the remedy?" We think it is generally due to a lack of knowledge as to how to select and breed animals suitable to our needs and markets; to this must also be added ignorance of their needs whilst dependent upon us for food, care and the like. Now, gentlemen, your Committee wish to impress upon you the importance of sowing broadcast throughout the land the fundamental principles of selection, breeding, feeding, stabling and handling of our domestic animals; that more rational methods may be adopted, just as in other lines of trade where the machinery is selected for a definite purpose, and to produce a certain result insuring the least possible loss and expense to the operator. There has been much said about the care of the dairy cow--the balanced ration, the kind to raise, and the like, but there still remains much of importance that has not been said which should be, and which would cause many of the mysteries of successful stock-raising to dissolve into self-evident facts. REPORT OF THE POMOLOGIST. BY CYRUS T. Fox, Reading, Pa. To the State Board of Agriculture: Your Pomologist would respectfully report, in reference to the season of 1901, as follows: The season for fruit, as a whole, was not a profitable one. In some favored localities in the State the apple crop was fair, and a few growers reported the best yield in several years; but their cases may be regarded as exceptional. The pear crop was a redeeming feature, and some orchards were heavily ladened. Peaches did better than for several years, especially the early varieties, and the prices were remunerative. Plums, which are not grown to any considerable extent in Pennsylvania, did well in some sections, especially the Japanese varieties. Quinces were below the average and inferior in quality. Cherries, particularly the early varieties, did well. The sweet varieties rotted badly. There were abundant crops of grapes in some localities, but generally, the yield in other sections of the State was not as good as in the previous year. Of small fruits, strawberries gave the best returns. The season for raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and currants was cut short by drought which set in early in July. The above, briefly summarizes the fruit results of the year, according to personal observation and the reports of correspondents throughout the State. Insect pests were unusually numerous, among the worst having been the "tent caterpillar," which invaded nearly every county in the State. Unfortunately but little was done to counteract its ravages, and many apple trees were completely denuded of their foliage. The evil effects of this invasion will probably be seen for years to come. The most efficacious way of disposing of this insect is to destroy the egg masses found on twigs in autumn and winter by burning. The "San José Scale" is gradually extending its opera tions and infested trees may be found in almost every county of the State. When the attention of your honorable Board was first called, on the 23d of January, 1895, to the appearance of this very pernicious insect in this State, it had been discovered in but three counties. By another year it had entered twelve counties, and now it is well scattered over the State. There is apparently no hope of exterminating the pest, but its virulence may be greatly lessened. The best remedies that have been discovered are the kerosene emul sion, the whale oil soap solution, and fumigation with hydrocyanic acid. The State Department of Agriculture has been doing a good work in having a systematic inspection of the nurseries of the State made, the means to do it being provided by the last legislature. Thorough and systematic spraying seems to be indispensable for the raising of perfect fruit in this country. The Bordeaux mixture is the standard preparation. No intelligent fruit grower can be ignorant of the benefits derived from spraying; but the average inan does not give sufficient attention to the prevention of the ravages of insects and fungous diseases by spraying. Destroy the insects and check the diseases we must, or they will destroy our growing plants and trees. The formula for the Bordeaux mixture has been published so frequently that it is unnecessary to give it here. Considerable damage was done during the past year to apple, pear and quince trees by fire blight, one of the most destructive enemies of the orchard. It is readily recognized by the sudden wilting of the foliage in mid-summer, its turning brown and the dying of the twigs as if scorched by fire. The treatment of most value is severe pruning of the blighted portions whenever met with in the orchard, and burning the brush thus secured. The "black knot" of the plum and cherry is caused by one of the most conspicuous fungi of the orchard. Its presence is easily recognized by the rough and nearly black excrescences produced upon the branches. When the spores which produce this fungous growth are first observed there is a chance of destroying them by spraying, but after the disease has advanced the only remedy is the use of the knife or saw. The knots can be removed and burned, but trees are sometimes so badly affected that they might as well be cut down altogether. Your Pomologist visited a cherry orchard last June, the trees being mostly of the Early Richmond variety, which had been completely ruined by the black knot. Of 1,000 trees originally, there had already been cut down over 300, and the intention was to apply the axe to the remainder during this winter. Notwithstanding its bad condition, however, the orchard bore several thousand crates of cherries last year, and yielded a nice income. It was the largest crop of cherries that this orchard ever produced. The "brown rot" is another destructive fungous enemy of the cherry, which preys chiefly upon the fruit. Its growth is so rapid that when the conditions of moist atmosphere and ripe fruit obtain it is almost impossible to check it. The worst enemy of the peach continues to be the "yellows," easily recognized by the premature ripening of the fruit, which takes on an unnatural spotting of red and purple, streaked with the same color through the flesh from skin to pit, and of a bitter or insipid taste. On the small branches of the trees are produced tufts |