STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 175 



crop, and diseasccl eyes will compel me to answer briefly. lam sorry that I cannot 

 give a clear and decisive answer, founded on statistics, showing tlie present condition 

 of the crop as compared with the same many years ago. 



There is no doubt, however, that we obtain smaller and poorer crops in most places 

 than formerly; but some of the statements that have been made are greatly exaggerated 

 or apply to certain small localities. The deterioration, where it exists, is probably 

 owing to the following causes : 



1. The apple worm. 



2. Decline of old trees. 



3. Neglected culture. 



4. Settlement and hardening of soil perhaps. Possibly there may be some constitu- 

 tional deterioration of the trees, but I think not. 



The first mentioned cause, the apple wonn, I think docs most of the damage. It has 

 increased greatly of late years, and hardly a sound apple is found. The moth lays its 

 its egg at the calyx end. and the worm enters the core. Many apples drop before 

 maturity, and those which remain are poor. I would like to learn the result of expe- 

 riments in turning in sheep in large numlers during the growing season to eat the fallen 

 and infested fruit continuing year after year without interruption. A single season's 

 trial would not probably amount to much. 



2. Orcliar(U oidei' than 50 or GO years are unreliable, the limbs die in part, the crops 

 are uncertain. There are many such orchards now. 



3. Orchards generally are left entirely to take care of themselves. I have seen trees 

 however standing in gardens 70 years old that still bore well, showing that the life of 

 the tree is prolonged by good culture . 



4. Since the land has been cleared ofi" and cultivated long, the original freshness, 

 fertility, and the porous character for roots and vegetable mould have partly disap- 

 peared, soils have been more compact. Where there has been an opportunity to 

 observe, it is found that most soil has actually settled some three or four inches. 

 Probably this may have aiiectcd the health and vigor of orchards in the same way 

 that the cultivation of the surlace or its neglect may influence growth. 



Some talk of the exhaustion of the soil by the trees, but I can not see the force of 

 this reason, as the roots extend yearly into new soil. Of course no one would plant 

 an orchard immediately after another orchard, where this exhaustion would be repeatecl 

 and the new roots would have to pass where the old had been. 



Very truly, J. J. THOMAS. 



Perhaps I ouglit to add that the apple crop here, most seasons, is still heavy and 

 highly remunerative to owners, notwithstanding these drawbacks. 



The President — We should like to hear from Mr, Barry, of Eoch- 

 ester, as to the cause of the decline of the apple crop in the older 

 States. 



Mr. Barry — My opinion is that the decline is owing to the want of 

 cultivation. There never was a time, in my opinion, when there was 

 such a demand for apple trees as at the present moment. I was 



