332 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



REPORT OF P. M. AUGUR, POMOLOGIST. 



The year 1881 will be remembered as one of special barrenness 

 of the apple orchards of Connecticut; generally the same may be 

 said of the quince, while the pear produced abundantly, the grape 

 produced fairly, and in most instances, orchards of the peach, es- 

 pecially those on elevated situations, where they received good 

 culture, bore good crops at highly remunerative prices, so much so, 

 as to offer a strong incentive to plant the peach largely. The 

 plum, where exempt from attacks of curculio, yielded splendid 

 crops at good prices. And the small fruits where they had gener- 

 ous care and high culture, were decidedly remunerative. 



The market for all fruits has been quick at good prices. 



How shall we equalize our fruit crops so as to have no glut in 

 the productive year, and no want in the barren year? This is a 

 question which has been repeatedly propounded of late, and de- 

 serves careful consideration. 



In answer I would say, first, more uniform care and culture 

 would secure more uniform crops; but still we must all admit 

 there is a strong tendency to over-production in alternate years 

 witb intermediate barrenness. And as the relative scale of prices 

 between 1880 and 1881 is as one to four, we desire to secure a 

 prompt and adequate remedy. 



In view of the evident facts I offer the following suggestions 

 specially with reference to the apple. With a probable heavy ap- 

 ple crop in 1882, lessen the production as follows: — 



1st. Top-dress your orchards generously, and where practicable 

 plow them carefully in early spring, thereby securing a fresh abun- 

 dant growth in 1882. While this is highly important in giving a 

 new and stronger growth to the orchard trees, it may not lessen 

 the crop, while it would materially increase its value. 



Therefore, 2d. Systematically prune out a considerable portion 

 of the young bearing branches, thereby materially reducing the 

 amount of bearing fruit spurs. These two steps will greatly aug- 

 ment the size and quality of the fruit without so much exhaustion 

 to the tree, and with greater probability for fruit the following 

 •year; both these operations may, however, actually, and probably 

 will, increase the value of the coming fruit crop of 1882. 



So, 3d, provide abundance of stools, step-ladders, and longer 

 light ladders, and in the blooming season, commence on orchards of 



