Found in an orchard logbook kept in the press shed.
October 2006 St Breward, Cornwall
The trees are coming back.
That’s what you say when someone asks. Blight goes through, takes its share, then you’re left with what’s got the strength or the luck. We’ve seen it before. My father did, and his before him. You cut hard, burn what’s bad, and wait.
We lost near a third of the orchard last time. Not all at once. Just enough each year to make you wary. The older trees went first, then a few you thought would hold. We did what we were told. Took advice. Left the rest quiet.
This year should have been thin.
Instead it’s been heavy. Too heavy in places. Branches set early and didn’t seem to mind it. Apples coming on together across rows that never used to match. Even an old tree we’d half written off has carried more than it should.
You don’t argue with a good year. You just work longer.
The apples fall clean. No wind worth noting. No knock from birds. You go down in the morning and they’re there, laid close round the trunks as if someone’s been careful where they’ve dropped them.
They’re sound. Not a mark on them. Flesh clean and sweet. The sort you’re glad to see after a bad run.
But they keep coming.
We cleared the ground proper one evening, right back to the roots. Came out at first light and there were more there. Not new growth that I could see. Just apples, same size, same colour, set down neat enough.
I marked a branch with twine to be sure I wasn’t going soft. Came back later and the twine was still there. Ground below full again.
No one’s playing tricks. There’d be no point to it. And no one’s lost anything. If anything there’s more fruit than we can shift. The press is running every day now and the vats are near full already.
We’ve started leaving some trees alone. Not pruning as close. Not clearing every fallen leaf. A few that were meant to come out this winter are staying where they are.
Doesn’t feel right to press them too hard just now. That’s how I’ve put it to myself.
The cider’s good. Better than last year, that’s certain. Customers are pleased. That should be the end of it.
Still, I don’t like how quick it’s all turned. Feels like they’ve gone from holding on to giving it all at once, without much warning.
We’re keeping a closer watch than usual.
That’s just good farming, after blight.