April .1,1890. J 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
278 
1 
THE PROMISE OF FRUIT, j 
- + - J 
I T does not follow, as most persons know who have had much 
experience in fruit culture, that a great display of blossom 
always results in abundant crops of fruit. On the contrary, it will 
be within the knowledge of not a few readers of these lines that 
when trees have been densely packed with flowers in spring they 
have often been almost or quite destitute of fruit in summer, and 
this when the weather has not been regarded as unfavourable for 
fructification. When the blossoms are so crowded on spurs and 
sprays that they have not room for expansion we can scarcely 
«xpect that they should be so strong and perfect individually as if 
they were more thinly disposed, and we think it has been found 
that the removal of blossom buds before expansion—thinning out 
much more than half of them—has been advantageous, those 
remaining having developed better, and set fruit accordingly. The 
practice, for obvious reasons, could not be pursued through exten¬ 
sive plantations of fruit and with large orchard trees; but the 
experiment is well worth trying on small trees, from which a 
moderate crop of fine fruit is more desirable than a heavy and 
exhausting crop of small trashy examples, and certainly than no 
fruit, as when aU the blossoms fall from the trees that were clothed 
■with them so completely. When this happens under favourable 
weather conditions at least one cause of the supposed mysterious 
■occurrence is probably the inherent weakness of the blossoms as 
the result of overcrowding. 
Fruit crops fail from other causes, and unfortunately it is not 
in the power of man to prevent the calamity. Sharp frosts at a 
critical time have often destroyed the essential organs of the 
flowers, though the petals have expanded as if nothing was amiss. 
The prospect of fruit was of the brightest, but the beautiful spec 
tacle of the chastely robed trees was delusive. It is possible that 
this may have been the case with Apricots if not Peaches in some 
districts last month, when they were overtaken by the sharpest frost 
of the winter. Ordinary nets are useless against such a visitation, 
while keeping trees covered with heavier material day and night 
during all sorts of weather is no security against failure, and in 
many cases at least as much harm as good has been done by per¬ 
manent blinds. When the blinds are moveable, and only used 
when need-"!, also stout enough to shield from even a severe frost, 
they are of great service, and have often prevented the loss of 
what they Lave saved—valuable crops of fruit. Fruit fails to set 
through other elemental conditions. Continuous showers and 
moisture-laden atmosphere for a week or more have prevented the 
dispersion of pollen, and destroyed all hope of the setting of fruit. 
Weather the direct opposite in character has had similar results ; 
unclouded sun, parching winds, and dewless nights causing the 
flowers to wither prematurely, and leaving no fruit behind them. 
Such visitations have often been stern realities, and may be again, 
though we hope not this year ; but beciuse of the possibility no 
■one can be assured that a good show of blossom will be followed 
by a rich harvest of fruit, yet we are aU pleased to see the 
blossom. 
Its safety or otherwise often la'^gely depends on the period of 
its expansion, and to some extent possibly on its structure, but 
more than all on the position of the trees. It does not follow 
that early flowering varieties succumb becau e of their precocity, 
and late blossoms escape because of their tardiness in expansion. 
No. 610.— VoL. XX., Third Series, 
for if the weather is favourable for setting when the early openers 
are in full floral beauty, and unfavourable when the late flowering 
sorts are similarly gay, the former consequently bear good crops 
of fruit, the latter light crops or nothing. Hence it sometimes 
happens that Pears are abundant and Apples sparse in the same 
garden. It is fair to assume, however, that the later the flowering 
the better the chance of favourable weather prevailing at the time, 
and that may be one reason why Apples over a series of years 
are more certain in crops than are Pears, while late flowering 
Apples are perhaps, as a rule, the more reliable ; but there are 
exceptions. 
Some most interesting and painstaking experiments, con¬ 
ducted by Mr. William Paul, were recorded in the Journal of 
Horticulture of March 6th of the present year. lie there states 
the period of flowering of a number of varieties of Apples, and 
indicates the size, shape, and texture of the petals of each. Per¬ 
haps most persons would consider the good bearing varieties in that 
list, which flower after the middle of May, somewhat more reliable 
than those which expand early in the month. Still, amongst these 
we find Duchess of Oldenburg and Keswick Codlin, which are as 
trustworthy as most; also Tower of Glamis. In the second week 
we find among others Lord Suffleld, Devonshire Quarrenden, and 
Manks Codlin, which usually bear well ; but with one exception 
those named have cupped flowers, the petals curving over the 
organs of fructification and affording them slight protection, 
though it may not be without favourable influence. Still, perhaps 
the later flowering sorts are the more certain in bearing, though it 
is noticeable that the half dozen that opened after the 21st of the 
month (May) have expanded flowers. Possibly gardeners and 
amateurs who are interested in fruit culture may take notes on the 
flowering and fruiting of trees during the season on the lines 
adopted by Mr. Paul. 
The position which trees occupy is an important factor in the 
production of fruit. Given equally fertile soil, and the same 
varieties, grown in a damp valley where fogs appear early and con¬ 
tinue long ; also on a breezy hillside—the blossoms will be destroyed 
by frost twice as frequently in the former as the latter position. 
Yet where there has been plenty of choice, fruit trees innumerable 
have been planted where they were the least likely to be produc¬ 
tive. It is a pity that should be so, but it is a fact, and the penalty 
for such mistakes is the annoyance born of disappointment. 
The promise of fruit this year, as indicated by the blossom, is 
necessarily variable, and we shall be glad to be favoured with the 
observations of our readers in different localities on the subject. 
In the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick the 
prospect is not very cheering. There is plenty of Peach blossom, 
and so far it is safe ; Pear blossom will be scant. A few of the 
trees are well studded with the buds just bursting, but many more 
are barren, and the majority have a very light sprinkling. There 
will not be half a crop of fruit even if the flowers set well. 
The Apple trees will not be “ pictures of beauty ” in May. 
Several contain sufficient buds for a crop, but the majority do not, 
and the fruit room will not be overcrowded in the autumn. The 
small bush Apple trees have been heavily laden during recent 
years, therefore require a season for recuperation, and some of 
them intend having one. Plum blossom is scant, and it is the 
same with many of the older trees in the adjoining market gardens, 
but young trees are well covered with flowers. Cherries are not 
usually productive at Chiswick, but there appears to be a fair 
promise of bush fruit. 
On this subject we have received two communications. Mr. 
Iggulden writes from Somersetshire ;—“ The late severe frosts 
have left their mark upon the Apricots, and I am afraid the Peaches 
are not in such a happy state as they appear to be. There is abund¬ 
ance of blossom on the former where protected by coping and 
blinds, but in too many instances this is delusive, as the deli ■ 
cate organs of fructification so neatly enclosed in the buds were 
No. 2166.— VOL. LXXXH., Old SERIES, 
