UNSEASONABLE BLOSSOM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2272, 16 April 1886, Page 2

UNSEASONABLE BLOSSOM.

Sir.—You you kindly inform ine: (and other readers of you journal) what effect you think the present unusual prevalence of unseasonable apple blossom will be likely to have on;next yoars crop, and in what way it will act.—Oonatanfc leader. ■' Answer-Wo have received many in- • quiries on this subject, The cause of this Unseasonable blossom is to be found in the exceptional character of the past season, The long 1 , drought until the end of January gave I severe check to the wood-making growth of all ■ fruit tr.ee>-, ■ and had the effect of prematurely ripen, in? this season's shoots and developing; the fruit spurs arid buds, When the rain came, still with 1 warm genial weather; :■ j the trees acted as though it was spring time, and after the abnormal rest forced upon them by the absence of moisture' " during the first half of the summer, they began to grow with renewed energy, *nd :■ the unatural mature flower buds whioh should have remained dormant until spring burst.forth into flower. We may bring forward, as a proof of the truth of this ex- \ planation, the fact that the only apple j tiees in our own garden which did not produce unseasonable blossom were two trees near the house which we were able to keep fairly supplied with water all through the dry weather. This autumn flowering must have a tendency more or less to injure the yield of fruit next'season. This effect may be obviated to a certain extent by liberal manuring, by top dressing during the winter, and liquid manuring in Sopteraber, It must also be • remembered that a vigorous tree almosb" always produces more blossom than it can turn.mto fruit, so that although loss blossom may- be seen next spring it may not make much difference to the yield of fruit. We should certainly remove the flowers that have come out of season, to prevent any possible setting- of fruit.— N.Z. farmer.