Good commercial yield continues to be maintained in this trial despite crowded tree conditions. The decline in yield reported last year for the unpruned areas did not continue this year, yields returned to more typical levels. The temporary hedge areas where alternate trees were removed in 1986 continued to lag far behind and again failed to regain productivity. Accumulated yields continue to favor the three tightly spaced hedgerow treatments. Noteworthy this season, is the observation that overall vigor appears to be declining in the entire plot and that the heavily shaded conditions are diminishing throughout the three tightly hedged treatments.
More light is apparent on the orchard floor than in past years even beneath the unpruned trees.