The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27
Treatment of Fruit.Trees that Bear
Every Alternate Season.


As it is q common occurrence for
many fruit-trees to yield a crop OF fruit
only once in two years, the inquiry is
frequently propounded, "What is the
cause, and is there a remedy for it 2"
The presentation of few pomologi-
cal facts touching this subject will as
sure US beyond oil doubt that the fruit
fulness OF tree-aside from certain
causes beyond the control of mortals-
is subject to familiar pomological laws,
which every intelligent pomologist
understands. 1t is understood that the
fruit buds of an apple tree, from which
the crop of apples must be produced
during the season of 1871, were formed
in the growing season of 1870. Ii there
had been any occurrence to prevent the
formation of fruit buds in 1870, the
tree, of course, could not produce fruit
during the season of 1871. 1t is well
understood, also, that when tree is
growing rapidly it cannot yield boun-
tifnl supply of fruit and when every
branch and twig bends with heavy
crop, the spray and the buds cannot be
expected to make more than q small and
feeble growth. Hence SO large proper
tion of the vital energies of the fruit
tree bearing a heavy burden of fruit is
employed in the development of the
crop, that the buds for the crop of the
succeeding season cannot be properly
unfolded therefore the season follow.
ing the year of an abundant crop is ap-
propriated solely to the development OF
fruit buds {: and as there is no fruit re-
quiring the energies of the tree, the
whole vital force is concentrated in pro-
ducing wood and fruit buds. The next
season, whether the year be odd or
even, nature having made preparation
in buds, there will be bountiful crop
of fruit; and if none of the buds or
young fruit are broken off, all the vital
pow ers of the tree will center towards
the full development of the fruit, to the
serious neglect of the crop of buds.
An intelligent friend has valuable
apple tree, which yielded bountifnl
crop of apples once in two years. He
expressed q desire that promologists
could have sufficient skill to make that
tree bear q moderate crop of frui
every season, rather than n heavy crop
one year and nothing the next. AS the
variety was so excellent they greatly
desired small supply, at least, every
season. He was assured that If he
would whip off all the blossoms on one
half the tree-top, the portion defoliated
would yield supply next season. AS
he knew that ii the tree produced
fruit on only one-half the top, there
would be more than his family could
use, he reluctantly tried the expert
ment, in the success of which he cher
ished no confidence, and whipped off
every blossom to be seen within the
area of about half of the tree. The re-
suit was just as it always will be under
similar circumstances - there was q
supply of fruit the following season on
the part of the tree from which the
blossoms had been removed, while the
other portion of the branches yielded
no fruit.
The same result could have been at
tanned by whipping off one-half or
more Of the blossoms over the entire
tree. By removing the blossoms the
specimens of fruit would have been
greatly lessened. Hence the energies
OF the tree would have been adequate
to theperfect development of the limited
crop, and also to the preparation OF the
fruit buds for the crop OF the succeed
ing season.
Some pomologists have assumed that
the fruitful year always occurs on sea
son designated in the calendar by al
uneven number, and the observations q
others have been confined to trees tina
have yielded fruit during the season
represented by an even number in the
computation of centuries. Thus far IL
the progress of scientific pomology NJ
plausible reason has been adduced t.
show why the fruitful season may no
occur during year designated by al
even or an uneven number. The fac
that fruit trees, which have been accus
toned to yield crop on what we de
nominate to be an "odd year" hav
been SO managed as to produce the &C
customCd supply en- an "even year,
assures pomologists that the fruitful
ness, or want OF productiveness, is no
influenced either way by the season rep
resented by an odd or an even number
There is one fact connected with thi
subject which most people have nc
failed to observe-namely, when tn
blossoms or the young fruit, or both
have been destroyed by frost, the tree
! the following season will be unusual
fruitful.-N Y. Herald.
I