The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-05
FRUIT GROWERS HAVE PROMISE
 OF RICH YIELD
Wet Days of June Still Re main Important Factor
 In Annual Output.
FROST DOES DAMAGE
 IN ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Increased Attention to Gull ture Gives Indication of
 Prompt Return.


 general condition of the fruit crop of the country is most favorable and of unusual promise, according to a spe- cia1 committee of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of which A. w. Douglas, of St. Louis, is chairman. The survey was completed early this month (May 8 and applies to all kinds or fruit practically, with the exception of peaches, which, it is said, have suffered severe damage from frost and cold in many sections.
 Culture Adds to Crop Success
 In general fruit north of the fortieth degree of latitude, which is practically the northern line of Kansas, is not far. enough advanced as yet, the commit tee reports, to warrant any forecast, other~t than that there has been but little damage, save here and there and that such damage is not of ser ious importance. It is also much too early to predict in any section to the production of such fruit as canta- loupes, watermeIons and the like. While, as predicted above, the out look as a whole for fruit, with the sloe exception of peaches, is far above the normal, it is pointed out there still re- mains to be encountered the wet days Of June, and the so-cal1ed June drop'' occurring in many kinds or fruit, par ticularly in apples.
 One of the compelling causes this season of the high condition of fruit is said to be the increased attention paid to it's culture, especially in prun- ing and spraying the trees. It is now generally recognized among all the commercial growers of fruit, accord l ing to the committee, that success is 1 imp ossible without close attention to both of these methods, and that the results from their use far outstripe the expense involved.
 Should be Good Small Fruit Year The yield of straw berriess blackber- ries, and other small fruits. promises | this year to exceed all records the committee reports. This favorable condition is widespread and where ever these fruits are grown, and this practically takes in most of the Uni ted States. There are scattered re- ports of damage by dry weather on the eastern coast of North Carolina. l of some. slight damage by cold and frost in different sections, of too much rain in California at critical periods, according to the committee, and of too much dry weather since, but in general the forecast Is for an abuund- l ing yield. As a matter of fact, ship kments from territories far north as \ Missouri are already very heavy.
 l A similar story is that of cherries, 1 of which the general product is much | more widespread and of greater inn portance than is said to be generally I realized. In some scattered sections lin North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois and Virginia there was some damage 1 by cold early in the season, but as a whole the outlook is for probably the greatest production in many years. k Cherries are of much commercial Importance in some sections, particu- 1arly in portions of Washington and | California, and some sections of the middle west. Cherries are grown suc- | frr- T, TI
 as far north as Minnesota, or practic- ally within the limits of the United States. They are shipped largely from some sections-particularly from the l Pacific coast.
 Largest Apple Crop Promised
 The apple crop, the most important of all fruits in it's commercial value. has the promise of very large pro- duction, the committee declares. This 1 good condition is, widespread. with of course exceptions here and there | as it was a little too dry in Ca1ifor- | mia in some spots, a, little too cold in 1 a, few sections, and there wa sdamage by frost in some portions of West ViF- ginia and Pennsylvania. and also in | Oklahoma and Kansas As a. whole
 however, the National Chamber o1 Commerce believes. the outlook is for one of the largest apple crops ever
 raised.
 The outlook for citric fruit is said
 to be very cheering Rain is needed in Florida. according to these reports
 though the trees for the new crop are blossoming well, while in California. Arizona and Texas there is the prom Iise of a very heavy yield. Likewise
 in California the apricot crop, one o1
 local importance, varies in it's promise
 of from one-ha1f to three-quarters o1 9 normal production.
 Outlook for the Peach Crop
 The yield of peaches will unques
 tionab1y be much less than last year i owing to very great damage wrough
 in the spring by severe cold and frost LPeaches ,ti is explained, are not only extremely sensitive to cold but art ) most previous in their spring awaken 4 ing, and arc consequently conetan l victims to the early and late frost: and freezes. There will practically be no production of any moment il
 either Kansas or Oklahoma, the com rnittee believes, and none in New Mex icoi throughout the Pecos valley which is the great peach-growing dis } trict of that section. As usual, tht
 damage is largely localized; peaches , will be completely killed in one DOT : ton of the state. and practically un hurt in another. In Arkansas, fol l instance, in the northwestern section they were very badly damaged, tn committee reports, while in the south ern portion there will be from 40 t' 60 per cent. of a, normal crop.
 | These same inequalities of loca : damage and local promise of yield ar to be found in Georgia, Texas, Ala barna and in Missouri. In Missour l through the central counties along tn Missouri river and in the extrem
 northwest the fruit was very badly in jured early in the spring, but in tn
 south h-centra1 section-in Howell am Oregon counties-there will be a nor mal crop is the information furnishe