Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-06-19
THE HAZARDS OF FRUIT GROWING

conditions Of the weather, watching
closely and anxiously all indications OF
change, worrying for fear that Il may be
unfavorsble TO growing crops, grumbling
because 1t is too cold or too hot, too wet
or too dry, looking to changes In the
moon TO affect conditions on this earth.
Undoubtedly many give themselves un-
necessary concern about future changes,
borrow trouble, but il must be borne in
mind that no other pursuit Is so de-
pendent upon favorable climatic c0ndl-
tions as that Of producing the products
Of the soil. OF the different classes Of
producers probably none are exposed TO
greater hszsrds than fruit growers.
Farmers sometimes suffer great losses
from winter killing OF wheat and clover,
by heavy protrscted rains, by severe
drouths, by wet hsrvestings and hsyings,
by untimely frosts, by rusts and blight
and insect depredstions, but their crops
are not quite 30 uncertain as those OF the
fruit grower.
gins In the autumn, when he anxiously
examines his fruit trees TO ascertain II
they have formed buds for the next sea-
sons crop. Buds of the larger fruits
are formed the summer Of the year pre-
ceding that on which they perfect their
fruit. In there are no buds 10 the su-
tumn on the apple, pear, peach, plum or
cherry tree, IL would be unreasonable 10
expect fruit the following year. Grapes,
blsckberries, raspberries and straw oer-
ries are produced on growths that start
from leaf buds Of the previous season 10
the spring.
After having discovered that fruit
buds have been formed on fruit bearing
trees, the next concern of the fruit grow
or Is that the weather may be so severe,
the temperature so low during the win
ter, as TO ! III the fruit buds. Generally
the greatest apprehension Is felt for the
peach buds, as they are considered the
most tender. have never known apple
buds killed by low temperature Ia win
ter, but peach buds are much more sus-
ceptible. IL IL = common belief among
experienced peach growers that fruit
buds of the peach cannot endure tem-
perature lower than Is degrees below
zero, but sm convinced that that de-
pends upon other conditions. II wood
and buds are well ripened the previous
autumn, and there has been no weather
warn enough to cause the buds to swell,
they will sometimes pass through
lower temperature safely, provided the
subsequent thsw Is quite gradual,
whereas they may be killed by higher
temperature than Is degrees below zero
IL the other conditions are unfavorsbie.
Buds OF pears will undoubtedly endure
lower temperature than those OF
peaches on well ripened wood. In the
summer of 1899 saw pear trees bearing
heavy crops OF fruit, in Genesee County,
in the same field In which young pesr
trees were killed, root aud branch, by
the cold Of the previous winter. The
young trees had probably been stimulst-
ed TO luxurisnt growth which failed TO
fully mature. There was q similar ex-
perience In the same locality two or
three years previously. Plums, think,
are next To peaches la tenderness, but
just how low temperature the fruit
buds will survive has not yet been de-
termined by the experience OF fruit grow
ers. | think that the buds Of cherries
are rarely killed by freezing In this To-
cality, but in higher lstitudes the sweet
cherries are unable TO endure the climate,
the trees, as well AS the fruit, being vim
ter killed.
After the fruit buds have all come
safely through the winter the hazards Of
the fruit crops are not terminated.
When under the genial influence Of the
tirst warm days OF spring the fruit buds
begin TO expand, the anxiety OF the fruit
grower Is augmented, and before retiring
for the night he snxlously scans the
skies and consults his thermometer TO
ascertain what are the probabilities OF
frost, and when the buds gradually un-
fold, exposing the delicate organs Of re-
production, the stamens, pistils and ova
TO the inclemencies OF the weather, then
may be considered the most critical
period In the history Of the fruit. Yet
question whether AS much fruit is killed
by frost during the blossoming period AS
by low temperature, preventing bees
and other insects from assisting in the
distribution Of the pollen. The first half
OF May this year WAS steadily cold, but
no freezing OF the blossoms st my place.
Cherries and peaches remained in bios
som long time, but At no time did see
any indications Of freezing OF the deli
cate organs Of reproduction, but | fear
from the appearance at the present time
May 23) that cherries are not setting
very full, and that the peaches will not
be large crop. watched them closely
while Ia bloom, and could not see \ sta
men or pistil wilted by the effects Of
frost. can recall many seasons when
apples blossomed full and there WAS no
frost while they were In blossom, or
afterwards, but cold, cloudy, disagree
able weather, perhaps rains, unfavorable
TO the flight Of bees and insects, followed
by fruitiess seasons.
A crop OF fruit Is not assured, even
when pollenation Is good and the trees
full of young fruit. In 1895 We had
frost every week 10 May. On the 2lst
we had the heaviest one Of the month.
The next day visited large orchard In
the vicinity Of Rochester and saw the
trees loaded with apples about the size
Of cherries, full grown, but they were
frozen solid and the crop destroyed.
Yet there were orchards that season on
more elevated sites that bore fair
crops OF fruit.
Pears in the same orchard appeared to
be as badly frozen as the apples, yet
some escaped and reached maturity. All
these failures of fruit were caused by
climatic conditions, unfsvorable weather.
Is it Singular that they whose years in
come, means Of living and paying debts,
taxes, mortgages, ETC., depend upon
fruitful seasons, should anxiously watch