354 Failure of the Apple-Crop in NrM England. 



has naturally arisen, Why have they not produced fruit ? Of course, there 

 could be no apples when there were no blossoms : but it does not inevitably 

 follow, that, because the trees bloom, there will be a crop of fruit ; and the 

 fact is, though there was a full blossom in many orchards last spring, there 

 was little or no fruit. 



• It has been asserted that the thunder-storms that have occurred when the 

 trees were in blossom have prevented the fruit from setting, and thus the 

 crop was lost. We do not believe in this theory at all, except so far as 

 this, — that if the trees were in full blossom, and a heavy shower, or, what 

 would be worse, a long storm, should come on, and wash out the pollen 

 before the germ had been impregnated, then, of course, the bloom would 

 prove abortive ; but it would not be because of the electricit}'^ in the air, as 

 some believe. 



Thunder-storms are no new invention ; for we well remember that many 

 years ago, when apples were as plenty as blackberries in August, we had 

 a greater number of thunder-storms than we have had of late years. Why 

 were not the blossoms destroyed then by electricity ? 



It has been said of late by some unknown writer in a commercial paper, 

 commenting on the failure of the apple-crop in New England, that one if not 

 the chief cause was, that the lands of this part of the country had become 

 exhausted, and were no longer able to produce this fruit. This is entirely 

 without foundation ; for many orchards that have been planted on new 

 land just reclaimed from the forest, or virgin soil that has never produced 

 any other crop than that which Nature planted, have shown the same re- 

 sults with the apple. Even the trees that have sprung up spontaneously 

 in choice locations, where the soil has grown richer year by year from the 

 accumulations of leaves and other material, have also failed : while, in 

 some instances, the reverse has been true ; a fair crop having been obtained 

 from trees standing in the midst of an old orchard, where, if anywhere, the 

 soil would be exhausted. Again : if this is the true cause, why should it 

 not affect pear and other fruit trees grownng in the same soil, and receiving 

 the same ti eatment ? 



But it is not true that it does ; for each year, while the apple has failed, 

 the pear has been a partial success, and given crops of fruit. Now, all 

 will admit that it requires a good soil to raise good pears, — even better 

 than to raise good apples. 



