Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
APPLE GROWERS ARE SAD;
THERE IS 4 BAD OUTLOOK
Augusta, Albemarle and Rockingham
Counties Are in Bad Luck-Too
Much Cool Spring Weather.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY IN GLOON
Experts Are Trying to Explain, but
All the Same the Explanations Do
Not Holp Much-Short Apple Crop
Is Certain for This Year.

The apple growers of Virginia are
rather down. in the mouth. They see
no very big prospects ahead for this
good year 1916.
A special report from Staunton to
the Industrial Section of The Times
Dispatch is. to say the least of it,,
rather discouraging. 1t reads
Expert reports from fruit rover
all over Augusta and .Albemarle Coun-
ties made to-day show that the apple
crop will be Il great disappointment.
The yield will not be more than 80
per cent of last years crop, and the
crop last season was Il short one.
Three weeks ago there was every
indication of Al notwithstanding apple
crop throughout the Shenandoah Va.-
ley. There was an unusual profusion
of blossoms, but within the past week
these blossoms have in the majority.
of cases fallen off. Only n few set
fruit.
Farm Demonstration Campfeld. of
Augusta County, attributes the failure
to severe and late winter and cold
rains at the time of b~lossoming. Also
to the fact there were not enough
bees to aid sufficiently in p%oll!nation.
AS THE FOLKS IN
SEE IT
In Augusta County, where Works are
the principal variety raised, there is
n full crop in very few orchards, there
will be about a 20 per cent crop.
winesaps dropped more generally than
Works, and Black Twigs are also very
short. Ben Davis and Limbertwies
are, however, heavily loaded. and will
yield a full crop.
In Albemarle County Winesap Is the
principal variety, the fruit has set very
badly. the crop will not he over s pei
cent normal. On some higher. eleva-
tons there is a fair crop, but these
orchards are few in number. Abe
marie Pippins run the Winesaps {
close second.
The Ben Davis was set in full croI
in the Piedmont. but ii is little grown
The most common expression heare
concerning the apple crop is that 1t /!
extremely spotted" the production
being most neven
An equally as distressing repor
comes to Times-pispatch from
H~arrisonburg, the capital OF Rocking
ham County. II says:
The apple crop in Rockingham
County and throughout this genera
section Of Virginia has met with
severe reverse in the last few days
ana IEult growers now state poSltlNelI
that the 1919 crop will be about a yielt
81 about 80 per cent. Three weeks ag'
they predicted a yield of SO per cent.
There has been a heavy fall O
blossoms, and many trees are lief
partly barren. Many explanations ar,
iven. No doubt the unprecedente,
cold wet weather has had its efec,
: The winter was unusually severe, an
I. Las t-osts with sudden warm spell
: irterspersed have done some damage
; In the regions around about Rich
mond, where people grow apples an
4 peaches, not for the market, but jus
10! family use, there are reports tina
the Irui, crop is much of a failur,
The failure is attributed TO the yer
late spring The apple and peac
trees hloomed and really brought fort
, the Gun fruit al! right, but the cor
t!ru%d cool nights withered the youn
fruit, and The baby apples and bah
peaches withered and dropped from II
trees Virginia cities are depending O
, other States for peaches and appl.
this season.