The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-08-11
Slump In Eastern Apple Prospects.

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
trying winter such as that of 1904.
Since the fruit began to develop, how
ever, there has been marked change in
conditions. This is quite general. One
reason assigned was the wet spring,
which prevented proper pollination.
Another was the abnormally heavy
drop 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 industry by extensive planting
OF trees the past few seasons, Many of
these will now come into bearing the
present year, and this will in measure
tend to offset the poor prospects,
The season continues late in New York
and advices from big applegrowing
countries indicate that the crop will not
prove near full one. Oswego growers
look for SO per cent, Albany for go, st.
Lawrence 20, Ontario 35 to 50 Orleans
indications are for O lighter yield than
in 1903. Erie is counting on medium
to fair crop. At this date it would
appear that peach and pear prospects
throughout the Empire State are for
moderate yields. Growers in several
counties say they will be surprised at a
half crop OF pears.
In the Keystone State the apple out
look is somewhat irregular. Columbia
counts on heavier crop, Schuylkill on
good yield and Center on fair harvest
Franklin reports to American Agricul.
turist that apples will be failure Dau-
phin will not have over one-quarter of
full yield and Cumberland 80 per cent
on high ground. The Pennsylvania
peach crop ranges from poor to fair,
in one or two counties it is very medi-
ocre, while in few it is ahead of last
year. Pears are fairly promising.
The Virginia apple crop is disappoint-
ing and some parts of the state orchard
lists say they will consider themselves
lucky to get half yield. In Rocking
ham 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 a good
peach crop in sight. In central Della
ware, apples are fairly good, and peaches
are better than last year. Peaches
uneven. Northeastern Maryland looks
for more general apple crop than in
1903 and a full yield of peaches. Season
is late, but pears promise fair and plums
big harvest.
In New Jersey, conditions are irregu-
lar. Essex County looks for a good |
yield of apples, while Burlington orch
ardists say prospects favor no more than
half crop. The peach yield in Essex
promises well, and the same may be
said of the pears. New England apples
prospects are much better than were
expected during the winter, and gener-
ally show less depreciation during the
spring months than was noted in other
parts of the country. Peaches, however,
will be light, although parts of New
Hampshire are counting on better crop
than last year.-Fruitman' Guide.
Reports from Missouri state that
under the most favorabl conditions from
this time on that state viii have not
more than one-fourth of a crop of
apples. DIR. Whtten, horticulturist Of /
Missouri Experiment Station, says the
dropping was due to the unusual devel-
opment of fungus. The wet spring was
favorable to the development of the fun
gus and prevented effective spraying
with Bordeaux mixture.