THE FRUIT-GROWER'S INSURANCE 41 



impossible to foretell by any considerable length of time, if 

 any or all of the difficulties which are liable to harass the fruit 

 raiser will actually appear. One does not know if his build- 

 ings will burn, yet he insures them. We know that in four 

 years out of five, some serious injury of insects or iungi may 

 be confidently expected, and it is the part of wisdom to in- 

 sure against it. 



" Last year, 1S94, was a season of remarkable invasion of ap- 

 ple-scab fungus, and those persons who sprayed their orchards 

 thoroughly had phenomenal results. These experiences, aided 

 by many publications upon the subject, so advertised the value 

 of the sprays that much more spraying was done in the state 

 this year than ever before. But it has so happened, probably 

 because of the dry spring, that comparatively few invasions of 

 enemies have occurred this year ; and the sprays have generally 

 eiven small results. There has now arisen, therefore, consid- 

 erable indifference or even opposition to spraying, and I expect 

 to see much less of it next spring than I saw this spring. If, 

 then, next year should be prolific in insects and diseases, there 

 will be a few orchards here and there which will reward the 

 forethought of the owner, and very many others which will be 

 monuments of the results of neglect. It is a common fault with 

 farmers that they draw their conclusions from the behavior or 

 experiences of each recurring season, and do not consider the 

 aggregate results of a series of years. Every operation should 

 rest upon some fundamental reason or philosophy, rather than 

 upon anv single half-understood experience." 



The year 1896 was remarkable for a phenomenal apple crop 

 and consequent low prices. Presumably, 1S97 will see a small 

 apple crop and high prices. The small crop will be liable to 

 much greater injury from insect enemies than a larger one 

 would be. Consequently, it seems fair to conclude that where 

 trees blossom and set fruit freely it will pay to take a little 

 trouble to get it matured in good condition. 



