258 



On the decrease of Fruit 



Vol. VII. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 On the decrease of Fruit. 



At the Quarterly meeting of the New Jersey Agri- 

 cultural Society, held at Princeton on the 28th of the 

 First month last, the following communication from 

 Caleb Smith Green, President of the Society, was read. 

 It has been kindly forwarded to us by the writer, and 

 we hope it may lead to inquiries and suggestions, in 

 relation to the subject matter, that may help to arrest 

 the evils complained of. 



In passing through some parts of New Jersey last 

 summer, we were compelled to notice the unthrifty 

 appearance of the apple orchards. There was a gene- 

 ral scarcity of foliage. The leaf was pale and sickly, 

 and inclined to curl at the edges and end : plainly indi- 

 cating that something was at work, sapping the health 

 of the tree. And these evidences of disease, were by 

 no means confined to the apple orchards of New Jer- 

 sey; they extended widely around Philadelphia; and 

 we hope they will not fail to command, as they cer- 

 tainly deserve, the very close attention of practical 

 men.— Ed. 



One of the advantages which we possess 

 in the present day, over our brethren in 

 former times, is that of communicating our 

 ideas and experience on agricultural sub- 

 jects, and in return receive the views and 

 experience of others, through the medium 

 of the various periodical Agricultural papers, 

 which are now published in our country. I 

 desire to avail myself of this method of con- 

 veying to you some observations on the sub- 

 ject of fruit trees and their diseases, as they 

 now appear in this part of Jersey ; and so- 

 licit your investigation and communications 

 on the subject. It is of great importance to 

 this part of the country. 



Cherries, plums, peaches, pears, apples, 

 are all diseased. The Morella cherry trees 

 are all dead ; occasioned by many protube- 

 rances on the bearing twigs. The plums 

 are fast following them of the same disease, 

 there being very few in a thrifty bearing 

 condition. The pears and apples are follow- 

 ing, though with a very different complaint. 

 Some years ago, a remarkably thrifty pear 

 tree, with fruit of superior quality, exhibited 

 rough places on the skin of the fruit, which 

 cracked some depth into the pear, by which 

 that side of the fruit was spoiled. Some 

 time after, a year or two, the September 

 butter pear was attacked in the same man- 

 ner; the roughness covering the pear al- 

 most over, and cracking in many places, so 

 that the fruit was, and is worthless. As the 

 land was a close loam, a dressing of lime 

 was given, at the rate of 50 bushels to the 

 acre, with a good portion of manure, which 

 put the land in an excellent state. Not- 

 withstanding, the disease increased, spread- 

 ing over the fall and winter Vergaloo, and 

 many others, so much so as to make them 



of small value. The Seckel pear is the only 

 kind that has escaped. Most of the pear 

 trees in this district, are in the same condi- 

 tion. 



But this is not the greatest loss. — The 

 apple trees, for some years past, have been 

 getting the same disease; the following 

 tacts have come under my observation : — In 

 an orchard of 10 or 12 acres, having a large 

 variety of fruit, the trees remarkably thrifty; 

 on a loam and shell soil ; sound land, excel- 

 lent for wheat and clover ; on which about 

 100 bushels of lime per acre, had been 

 spread in twelve years, and well manured ; 

 twenty-three years since, the trees were 

 set in the orchard; they are now at the best 

 age for the bearing. The land has been 

 kept under continual cultivation, except in 

 the rotation one or two years in clover, that 

 the soil might be kept open, and the roots 

 have free course to spread and enlarge. 

 The trees have grown accordingly, and the 

 loss and disappointment have been so much 

 the greater. The Newtown pippin, Cider 

 apple, Bellflower, House apple, and Pelican, 

 are nearly spoiled — the other kinds much 

 injured. Greenings, and Old England Red 

 Streaks, are the only winter kinds that are 

 fair, and they are fairer and larger than 

 common. On some fall apple trees, the 

 fruit is very fair and good. These thrifty 

 kinds have individual and separate rows, 

 and run, some of them, through the orchard, 

 between rows and kinds only fit for the pigs. 

 I have been more particular in describing 

 the state of the land, trees and fruits, than 

 may appear to others necessary, in the hope 

 of laying a foundation for investigation by 

 others. My mind for some time, was im- 

 pressed with the idea that over liming was 

 the cause, but observing other orchards 

 where the land had not been limed, in the 

 same condition, I was compelled to give up 

 that idea. Other reasons have occurred to 

 me — as the seasons; but that will not suit 

 the case, for many kinds have been diseased 

 for five or six successive years, while others 

 have escaped. Also the state of cultivation ; 

 but that will not apply, for one orchard of 

 four or five acres, has not been ploughed for 

 20 years, and it is in the same condition. 

 Being unable to assign any reason for loss 

 of fruit, or give any remedy for the disease, 

 I now, with deep interest, refer the subject 

 to my brother farmers, for their investiga- 

 tion and elucidation, hoping that some light 

 may have been obtained by some who have 

 been more fortunate in their investigations 

 than the writer; and as this is a leisure sea- 

 son of the year, they will give us their 

 views this winter, to prepare us for spring 

 operations. 



