100 



How to prevent the depredation of the apple worm is a 

 diiEcult subject to determine. Sometimes they are very in- 

 jurious to tlie fruit, other seasons we get a good crop, nearly 

 perfect. The cause of the change is hard for us to understand. 



Atmospheric influences sometimes operate on the crop. 

 The year 1874, it will be recollected, was an apple year, par- 

 ticularly for the Baldwin. The crop was generally large, and 

 the price of apples low. In our locality there was a large 

 blossom, which looked healthy and strong. When in full 

 bloom, a blight came over them which gave the blossom and 

 foliage an unhealthy appearance ; many of the leaves curled 

 up and dropped oflf, and many of the trees did not recover 

 from the shock during the season. There was a small crop of 

 apples of very inferior quality. Some orchards not far dis^ 

 taut had a full crop of good fruit. In 1876 some of the or- 

 chards that failed two years before produced a full crop of 

 nearly perfect fruit, with few wormy apples. 



The present year there is almost a total failure. We are 

 aware that a great crop of Baldwins could not be reasonably 

 expected. There were, however, some orchards that blos- 

 somed tolerably well. What was the cause of the failure ? 

 It was not the canker worm nor caterpillar, for in many of 

 our orchards there are none. 



It was said by one of old, "Except the Lord build the 

 house, they labor in vain that build it ; except the Lord keep 

 the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Although we 

 may cultivate our orchards well and protect them as well as 

 possible against insects, yet without the smile of Him who 

 rules the elements, our crops may fail. 



Now in closing, we would recommend to those who have 

 good orchards to cultivate and protect them as well as possi- 

 ble against insects, and we trust in most cases they will, with 

 the blessing of a kind Providence, be rewarded. 



Joseph How, Chairman. 



