Connecticut western news., 1895-11-14
PEACH WILLOWS.
An Interesting Letter from Peach Com-
 missioner Hubbard.

missioner Hubbard.
 On account of the interest manifest ed in the work of the Peach Fellows Commission and because of some par tial and misleading statements which have been published in regard thereto, I send you a brief summary of this sea- sons work. which will be more fully re- ported to the Board of Agriculture for use at its winter meeting. The total number of trees examined amount to 50l ,S04, distributed among the different counties of the state as follows:
 Hartford County. .175. 1ol Fairfield County ty............. .5S, o2o New London County A, 53S Windham County. ty...............29 29, 5o6 New Haven County. .S3. .242 Middlesex County ty............5 53, 444 Holland County .32. 095 Litchfield County .......... 24, 6o2
 These trees are divided into two classes designated rspeotively as Young Trees" and Bearing Trees, !" those which have been set three years or less being clsssed as "Ynung Trees, !" and all older as "Bearing Trees, and it Is an interesting fact that this year for the first time more than half the num- Der fall in the class of young trees, Last year the excess of bearing trees over young trees was more that 22, 900 This year the excess of young trees over bearing trees is 2l. .S76. The total nun Der examined this year exceeds that of last year by nearly so 900 These fig ures point unmistakably to a growth of interest and faith in peach culture in Connecticut very gratifying to every citizen who loves good fruit or is inter- ested in the development of the re- sources of the state. They refute em- phatically the contention of those who have maintained that the work of the Commission has been Encouragement to peach growing. In fact nothing be fore has so directed attention to the sub- iect, diffused information as to the con- ditions of success, aroused interest, fur nished basis for confidence, and stimulated activity in the extension of peach culture in Connecticut, as has three years during which 1t has been in existence.
 The total number of trees condemned this year IS 27 800 the percentage of the whole being almost precisely the same as last year. but only about half that of the first years work. Nine appeals have been taken this year and with the exception of a single tree. the judgment of the inspectors has iu every case been sustained by the committee of experts appointed to review the work. There is very little doubt but that the inspec- tors judgment would in the excepted case have been upheld by the experts if they could have seen the tree in ques- ton with the fruit which gave gave evil dence of its diseased condition upon it. The work this year has been more searching and comprehensive than ever before. and 1t may fairly be said to have passed its experimental stage and set. tied into permanent form and method. It still encounters opposition which interferes materially with economy of administration and Is an obstacle to the bestsuccess.
 But this Is the common experience of every work which antagonizes ignorance and selfishness. As men come to un- derstsnd it better and to recognize more fully their obligations as good citizens. this opposition will glve way to approv- al and hearty cooperation with the hap py result of attaining increased efficien- cy in the work and conferring greater benefits at reduced cost.
 J. M. HUBBARD. Commissioner. Middletown, Conn.,, Nov. ?.