The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-19
APPLES FVFRT YEAR.
Grating on BisnnfaIs 40 as to Make the
Crops Alternate.

Mr.. Talbot, an experienced orchardst,
tells IN the fiOugbman how to grow APP
piles. lie says: My apple trees, and es-
lecially the Baldwins, bear little or no
Jruit, except on alternate years. The
cause of this is difficult 10 explain. Some
attribute IL TO the impoverished condition
OF the soil, saying that when there is a
full blossom the tree has not vigor enough
to form fruit buds for the next season;
but IL this were the case, why should a
thrifty tree In the richest and most favor
able soil be in the same frhtless condi-
fion?
Others attribute 1t to the cold and wet
seasons at the time Of blossoming; but
81 this were the case, the cold and wet
seasons should alternate with the fruit.
Insects may possibly account for II, on
the supposition that when there is a light
bloom tney destroy nearly all the fruit,
which they cannot do when there is a
fun blossom; also, that on these years
there are not 50 many insects generated
for the full year.
But neither of these suggestions affords
remedy for the evil Ne cannot control
the seasons, and Il is very difficult to de-
stroy the insects. No doubt the unfavora-
BILE seasons often destroy the crops by
preventing proper pOllenatiOn, but this
does not occur ON alternate years
Every apple or other fruit originates IN
the blossom in much the same way. The
ovules In the placenta are female cells.
which never mature unless united with
the particles OF pollen which are the male
cells. The substance OF these cells unites
and forms seed cells. dropping the form
OF the pollen or male cell.
This Is clearly demonstrated I'm the pro-
cess of hybridzng. Pollen OF a different
variety Is placed upon the ovule. and
from the union Is produced the seed cell OF
the new, or hybrid variety
But while we cannot explain or obyiate
this alternate bearing of the apple, is
there any way We can avoid the evil OF
AZ | have succeeded in my own case
quite satisfactorily. j have been grating
fruit trees Tor siXty-fye years, and find
ecions set IN thrifty bearing trees gener-
any begin 10 bear the third year and con-
tinue 10 bear on alternate years. In
this neiehbOrhood most trees bear on the
even years. but some are as constant on
the odd years. ] find by picking OF the
fFuit blossoms OF a graft the bearing year
can be changed An unumely frost or
the canker worms sometimes changes the
bearlng year, but these are not practical
Die methods. Alternate bearing IL a per-
manent habit OF tree, and may be trans
terred by grating.
Nhen bought my place found all my
baldwins bore on the even years My
neignbor had tree that bore uniformly
On TIE odd year: Upon thrifty tree
NnlCn ! valued l set scions from my
neighbours tree. on the north side. This
was on the odd year They bore on the
tnltd or odd year, and have borne on the
olu year ever since. ON the second or even
year l grated the south side with scions
from the same tree These bore on the
thifd or even year, and still bear on the
estSn year. Thus. have fruit every year.
..NoM ABOUT hali my trees bear on the odd
year ana half on the even year
ny. TINS experiment | learned that I
coulu nave my trees bear on the odd. the
even, or pom years, by grating. and
90 not mink 10 necessary 10 he tarttcular
ABOUT the scions. On thrifty trees tnev
commence bearing on the third year from
k.aiung II they fail on that year il is a
ii.us matter 70 change the bearing year
py plgkins OF the first blossoms. These
Yeharks apply particularly TO the BALD
other Kinds less. wow 'eN