Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-09-02
THE APPLE CROP.
Prospect Now Seems to Be That Eastern Yield
Will Be Short.
Rural Northwest.

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Two months ago apples promised a
bumper yield throughout nearly all
sections OF the country. Growers
based their estimates on the heavy
bloom, which exceeded expectations
after such a trying winter such as
that of 1861. Since the fruit began
to develop, however, there has been a
marked change in conditions. This
is quite general. One reason assigned
was the wet spring, which prevented
proper pollination. Another was the
abnormally heavy crop in many Of
the middle States. However, while it
is evident that early promises will not
be fulfilled, orchardists should bear in
mind the impetus given the fruit in
dustry by extensive planting Of trees
the past few seasons. Many of these
will now come into bearing the pres
ent year, and this will in measure
tend to offset the poor prospects.
The season continues late in New
York and advices from big apple.
growing counties indicate that the
crop will not prove near a full one.
Oswego growers look for so per cent,
Albany for 60, st. Lawrence 70, On
tario 35 to 50. Orleans indications
are for a lighter yield than in 1903.
Erie is counting on medium to fair
crop. At this date it would appear
that peach and pear prospects through
out the Empire State are for moder-
ate yields. Growers in several coun.
ties say they will be surprised at a
half crop of pears.
In the Keystone State the apple
look is somewhat irregular. Colum-
bia counts on heavier crop, Schuyl-
kill on a good yield and Center on q
fair harvest. franklin reports to the
american Agriculturist that apples
will be q failure, however; Dauphin
not over one-quarter of full yield
and Cumberland SO per cent on high
ground. The Pennsylvania peach crop
ranges from poor to fair, in one or two
counties it is very mediocre, while in
a few it is ahead OF last year. Pears
are fairly promising.
The Virginia apple crop is disap-
pointing and in some parts of the
State orchardists say they will con-
slider themselves lucky to get half
yield. In Rockingham the harvest is
said to be less than for many years.
This condition is more discouraging
by reason of the. heavy bloom that was
secured early in the spring. Many
counties report good peach crop in
sight.
In Central Delaware, apples are
fairly good, and peaches are ahead of
last year. Teaches uneven. North
western Maryland looks for more
general apple crop than in 1903 and q
full yield Of peaches. Season is late,
but pears promise fair and plums
big harvest.
In New Jersey, conditions are ir-
regular. Essex county looks for
good yield of apples, while Burlington
orchards to say prospects favor not
more than a half crop. The peach
yield in Essex promises we'll, and the
same may be said OF pears. New Eng
land apple prospects are much better
than were expected during the winter,
and generally show less depreciation
during the spring months than was
noted in other parts of the country.
Peaches, however, will be light, al
though parts of New Hampshire are
counting on better crop than last
year.
Reports from Missouri state that
under the most favorable conditions
from this time on that State will have
not more than one.fourth of a crop of
apples. DR.. Whitten, horticulturist
of the Missouri experiment station,
says the dropping was due to the un-
usual development Of fungus. The
wet spring was favorable to the de.
velopment of the fungus and pre-.
vented effective spraying with Bor.
deaux mixture.