Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1916 — APPLE CROP SHORT THIS YEAR [ARTICLE]

APPLE CROP SHORT THIS YEAR

Few Farmers Sprayed Trees and Wield In 15 Per Cent of Normal. Indianapolis, October 1 3. —The Indiana ai>ple crop this year will be about 15 per cent of what it was last year, according to an estimate made by F. N. Wallace, state entomologist, based on reports he has received at his office in the state house. He says that, the shortage is due to several' causes. Among them were the cold rains at the time the trees were in blossom, followed by lack of pollination. Many fruit growers neglected to spray their orchards, it is said, which also had its effect in cutting down the crop. The other enemies of a good crop appeared during the year and helped cut down the yield materially. They were what *is known as the lesser apple worm, and the apple scab. One reason given by some for not spraying this year was that last year they did so, and when the crops were picked they learned some of their neighbors, who had not' sprayed trees, had crops equally as good. This year many ‘’‘took a chance,” it is said.