EDITOR Western Horticulturist: With the greatest profusion of flowers, and the finest prospect for a large crop of apples last spring, we are now compelled to believe that the crop will be small in quantity, and poor in quality. There is a general complaint of the imperfection of the fruit. The ground is covered with apples, and those still remaining on the tree are defective. The tree appears to be affected as well as the fruit. Severe droughts, and hard winters (or something else) are killing many outright, and rendering others feeble and sickly. The curculio attacks the apple as well as the peach and the plum. So that no matter how fair in appearance, or how rough and scabby, almost every specimen has a worm in it. This comparative failure appears to be wide-spread and general - not confined to any one locality, or to any particular variety. Youug, thrifty, and healthy looking trees seem to suffer as bad as older ones. The borer at the root, and twig blight at the top will soon destroy many fair specimens of choice bearing apple trees. The commercial value of a good apple crop may be estimated by millions of dollars, while the domestic value is above all price.

What is to be done? Are these ravages beyond the control of man? The remedies proposed are numerous and varied, but practically inefficient. The theories of a man who signally fails in practice are worthless.

Nauvoo, Illinois. C. Bradley.