04 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



Fruiting of Apple Trees Every Other Year 



IWI ANY varieties of apples and pears for various 

 reasons bear only every other year. This condi- 

 tion is not uniform the country over, but is more com- 

 mon in the fruit sections of the North and East than 

 in the South or West. The same is true but to a less 

 extent of the stone fruits. The causes are somewhat 

 varied but are mostly the result of the climatic en- 

 vironment in which the trees are grown. The bien- 

 nial bearing habit is apparently not an inheritable trait, 

 but when it once becomes fixed in the life of the in- 

 dividual there is little that can be done to change it. 

 In the fruit sections where the climatic conditions 

 favor the setting of a crop every year, the biennial 

 habit does not exist. In those sections where frosts 

 and rains interfere with the set of fruit, the life 



(Courtesy of Journal of Hcf'cifity) 



Grai'enstcin apple graft on a Russian type. The arrazv marks 

 the point of union. Our year tlic Gravenstei)! branch is loaded 

 Zi'ith blossoms iMle the rest of the tree is comparatively bare. 

 On alternate years these conditions are reversed. 



processes of the tree are thrown out of balance and 

 the tree gets into the habit of over-working one year 

 and recuperating the next. A normal tree develops 

 fruit buds for the next year at the same time it is 

 matiu-ing the present crop. When there is no fruit 

 to mature, an over supply of fruit buds is prepared 

 for the next year. When the time comes, if condi- 

 tions are favorable, a heavy crop sets and the tree 

 puts forth all its efforts- to mature it. This causes 

 such a heavv drain upon the energy of the tree, that 

 no fruit bud's are formed for the next crop. After a 

 few years the haljit generally becomes fixed and tlie 

 tree continues as a biennial bearer. 



If the trees are properly pruned and the fruit 

 thinned, while they are young the habit can be pre- 

 vented to a large extent. When a heav}- crop sets on 

 a young tree, it should be thinned enough so it will 

 not be overburdened and can develop fruit buds Avhile 

 maturing the crop. If frost destroys the blossoms, 

 then the grower should reduce the vigor of the trees 

 by cropping the orchard or by giving less cultivation. 

 A heavy pruning in the years when a crop is expected 

 will tend to reduce the amount of fruit and increase 

 the wood growth. Early summer pruning during the 

 crop year will often stimulate fruit buds. As the trees 

 grow older the habit becomes fixed and it is hardly 

 worth while to attempt to correct it. 



That a heavy crop actually reduces the number of 

 blossoms formed for the next year can readily be 

 proved by observing and counting those that appear 

 tliniugh two or three years. Instances are not uncom- 

 mon, where scarcely a dozen blossoms developed on 

 trees that matured a heavy crop of fruit the preceding 

 year. In the particular case illustrated in the accom- 

 j)anying photograph, one-half of the tree had been 

 grafted to a Gravenstein while the other half was of 

 the original variety. For some unaccountable reason 

 each half of the tree chose opposite vears for their 

 heavy crop. In the spring it presents an t>dd appear- 

 ance by one-half being in heavv bloom while the other 

 half scarcely develops a single blossom. The next 

 year the process is reversed. 



This tree is now about 25 years old and to the 

 writer's personal knowledge has behaved as described 

 for the past five years. No certain explanation as to 

 the original cause of the condition can be given. As 

 there is some slight difference in the blooming time 

 of the two halves, it is possible, that frost may have 

 come at such a time as to destroy the fruit on one side 

 while the other escaped. It is interesting for two rea- 

 sdiis. First, that it indicates that the formation of 

 fruit buds is not wholly a cjuestion of nutrition. Sec- 

 ond, that the food supply of the trees is directed first 

 to the needs of the maturing crops. — The .Journal of 

 Heredity. 



THE FLOWERING DOGWOOD— CORNUS 

 FLORIDA 



IT is perhaps not necessary to call attention again to 

 ••■ this tree which in recent years has been planted 

 in considerable numbers in those parts of the north- 

 eastern states where it is hardy, but the Flov.ering 

 Dogwood has been exceptionally beautiful this \-ear, 

 and its value for the decoration of the parks and gar- 

 dens of eastern North America cannot be too often 

 insisted on. Cornus florida "composes well," as land- 

 scape gardeners would say, with tlie vegetation of 

 eastern America, that is, where it is planted under 

 our native trees or along the borders of natural woods 

 it never looks out of place. In spring it enlivens the 

 forest with sheets of the snow white floral bracts 

 which surround the heads of small yellow flowers. In 

 October the leaves of not one of our smaller native 

 trees assumes more beautiful shades of crimson, 

 scarlet, orange or yellow, and as the leaves change 

 color gradually leaves which are still green are often 

 mixed with those which have become brightly 

 colored. The autumn beautv of the leaves is in- 

 creased, ton. bv the contrast in the colors of their 

 upper and kA\er surfaces, for only the upper surface 

 changes color, the lower retaining until the leaves 



