Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-01-26


CAN THE BEARING OF APPLE TREES BE
CHANGED?- correspondent of the New
England Farmer asks the question at the head
of this article, and then ans Ters it as fol-
lows
81 have no hesitation in saying the bear
ing year can be changed, though to what ex-
tent am not prepared tosay. Its well known
that the even years are our bearing years
this, | think, is because the Baldwin bears
even years, with few exceptions, and there is
probably as many Baldwin apple trees in
New England as all other kinds put to-
gether. A very intelligent gentleman from
Germany asked me a short time since why
the even year, and [ gave him the same ex-
PLANTATION that [ have given above he said
there was nc suchthing in Germany. Trees
and plants, as we'll as animals, need rest 3
they must and will have it; it is true, you
may, by artificial means, over-work them, but
the subject suffers to a greater or less extent
for its extra exertions. Take for instance, a
Baldwin apple tree that has borne its fifteen
barrels of apples.and I have now in my
mind one that bore that number in 1850
and could we expect it to bear the next year?
Certainly not: it had spent all its energies
in perfecting this great crop, and it stood in
absolute need of time to regain it's lost pow
ClSs hOH1 LOU bElCi 1dfllS 1CSIC Ou6 NGIJis
it is again very full of apples, and probably
will produce as many or more than it ever
has before and so it will 90 on as long as
it lives, bearing and resting alternate years,
This is also the case with some trees of the
!, Hubbardston Nonsuch that | have noticed
bearing very full, odd years, and resting even
ones, while other trees of the same variety
n that bear small crops, bear every year take
the RoXbury Russet, that bears almost every
year, but bears small crops: The sam MAJ
be said of other kinds.
Now what [ mean to prove by the above is
v that-and it is well-known to all fruit-grower
If a tree bears very large crops one wear, i
4. will not bear the next, but if it bears small
crops it may bear every year. AS ! have be
ID fore said, the Baldwin bears large crops ever
other year, and those the even years with fey
exceptions; and now we may again ask tn
u question, can we change the bearing year Of
part so as to equalize the crop and again
he answer, | think we can, and will give my ref
sons why | think so. In front Of our hous
stand two apple trees. Siberian Crabs, on
of which bore the even year, the other the ode
this they have done ever since they commence
IT. bearing until last yeat, when one of the tree
was blasted, both leaf and blossom; ne
by leaves came out, but it bore no fruit this We;
uOIH LICC0 dlC 1dlI1 lIu uOllIO W Hal
ny. think art may do, changing the bearing We
of apple trees, and | see no reason why Il
IA same may rot be done with other kinds
trees. | now ask, have we not some cause
believe that the bearing year Of our Baldwi
can be changed and if it can, we should ii
it our attention, and this for various reason
first, it would be more convenient for the pl
Queer to have the crop equalized, the appl
would be larger, fairer, and Of better quaIi
Ios | mean higher favored, handsomer, &c ST
ond, the consumer would be especially bcr
fitted, for the price with the crop would
cqualized; he would not be obliged to pay t,
The dollars and fifty cents per barrel; neitl
would he be able to get them for one dol
10; ard twenty five cents; good apples should
:; and hope | shall live to sec the time VIII
= all kinds of good fruit. will be within t
reach of every family, however humble tn
49, circumstances; but when they are worth fro
~ two and a half to three dollars a barrel, it p
ces them beyond their reach when they ;
~ very low, it is true they may buy, but til
must, as we see, be deprived of apples eve
iIe second year, which need not, and should
.a' be the case. | intended last spring TO hi
:lnIEs picked all the fruit off Of some of my Badly
n M trees, but in the hurry of business, n
wy lected to do so. Should | live until
spring of 1854, | shall try the experiment
uu my Baldwins to considerable extent, anC
was would advise Others to do the same and M
= known the result. | have Baldwin trees t
sen- bear odd years, from which | cut all my b.
- to work into nursery trees"