Management of Fruit Trees that bear Alternate Tears. 169 



MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES THAT BEAR EVERY 

 ALTERNATE YEAR. 



By Sereno Edwards Todd, Brooklyn, N. Y. 



It is common for many fruit trees to yield a crop of fruit only once 

 in t\vo years. Some pomologists have assmned that the fruitful year 

 always occurs on a season designated in the calendar by an uJteven 

 number ; and the observations of others have been confined to trees that 

 have yielded fruit during the season represented by an even number in 

 the computation of centuries. Thus far in the progress of scientific 

 pomology, no plausible reason has been adduced to show why the fruit- 

 ful season may not occur during a year designated by an even or an 

 uneven number. The fact that fruit trees, which have been accustomed 

 to yield a crop during what we denominate an " odd year," have been 

 so managed as to produce the accustomed supply on an " even year," 

 assures pomologists that the fruitfulness, or want of productiveness, is 

 not influenced either way, by the season represented by an odd or an 

 even. number. 



The presentation of a few pomological facts touching this subject, 

 will assure us beyond all doubt, that the fruitfulness of a tree — aside 

 from certain causes beyond the control of mortals — is subject to famil- 

 iar pomological laws, which every intelligent pomologist understands. 

 It is understood that the fruit buds of an apple tree, from which the 

 crop of apples must be produced during the season of 1871, were 

 formed in the growing season of 1870. If there had been any occur- 

 rence to prevent the formation of fruit buds in 1870, the tree, of course, 

 could not produce fruit during the season of 1871. It is well under- 

 stood, also, that when a tree is growing rapidly, it cannot yield a boun- 

 tiful supply of fruit ; and when every branch and twig bends with a 

 heavy crop, the spray and the buds cannot be expected to make more 

 than a small and feeble growth. Hence, so large a proportion of the 

 vital energies of the fruit tree bearing a heavy burden of fruit, is em- 

 ployed in the development of the crop, that the buds for the crop of the 

 succeeding season cannot be properly unfolded. Therefore the season 

 following the year of an abundant crop is appropriated solely to the de- 

 velopment of fruit buds ; and as there is no fruit requiring the energies 

 of the tree, the whole vital force is concentrated in producing wood and 

 fruit. buds. The next season, whether the year be odd or even, nature 

 having made preparation in buds, there wi]l be a bountiful crop of fruit ; 



