The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-23
Thin Out the Fruit.
rphiladelDhfa Rapord I

As the season seepls favorable the pros
pect is that the trees of all kinds will be well
loaded with fcdit. Too much fruit is some
thing unusual, for the market Is never over
stocked IN quantity, but too much inferior
fruit is yearly infection on all who buy.
Pruning trimming and cultiyatinr, while
pushing forward the trees in vIgor aud prO
ducuvsness, also assist in the development
of a surplus OF blossoms, the stimulus caus-
ing the trees 20 bend their energies in that
direction in preference to an excess Of
leaves, for the embryo buds are alike, and
diverge into leaf or fruit, as the conditions
direct
Thinning out fruit seems repulsive to
those VINO are accustomed 10 seeing heavy
clusters of fruit en- trees, and the operation
appears 70 De wssteful one; bat when
we consider that fr0iting is but an effort
of natural production, il is 10
be wondered, rather, that thinning
is not more commonly practiced. If the
tree can not propagate by seeding ii will en-
.deavor 70 do so from the root by sending out
shoots. It either sends out shoots or fruit
buds, or both. and this must be accom-
gpIished only with the material which the
tree affoTds, part Of which is stored and part
new. taken directly from the soil at the time
OF blOssOming or little before. This ma
lterial Is distributed to every part Of the tree,
the remotest blossom not being forgotten,
its capacity TO supply. Where the fruit is
oveI-cro9ded on the tree the fact is appar-
ent that inferiority of size mpst be the con-
sequence; and whenever the fruit is dwarfed
thefiavOr and appearance is below the sav-
.erage. to say nothing of the drain on the
vitality of the tree, which rs thereby COM
PEELED to u,e its utmost endeavors in order
ITO develop its fruit.
BY thinning out the inferior specimens,
Ioax rlxv mi hot NJ -
the sap Is directed into fewer channels in
stead of the many, the fruit. being supplied
with a greater proportion of nour'shment.
grows more raDidly, ripens sooner and is i'm
proved in appearance and quality. Nor
will the actual production be less. for the
chances are that by measurement the
quantity will be more than II no thinning
process had bsen practiced. the chief benefit
being the dou bling of the price owing to the
superiority of the fruit Strawberries so
treated have heen grown TO such proper
tf0ns as TO readily command Gfty cents per
GEart when interior kinds were not in de-
mazd, and pears have been sent to oEr mar
kets that sold eingly at good prices. while
Otoef5 were sold by measurement. Ehou-
sanes of bnshels Of apples rot lin our orchards
annually. simply because the trees are over
crowded aud the fruit becomes unstable
and cherries. peaches and even the small
fruits sre no<xceptian.
Another point to be observed is that trees
and vines must not be allowed to make any
effort other than by seeding. The shoots
and runners must be kept down, as they rob
the parent stock of vital power-as is we'll
known TO those who row strawberries cape
<ially. the runners of this gear being detri-
Ezental to fruit production the succeeding
season. Let every fruit-growo- endeavor TO
produce good. well-formed, marketable
fruit. culling out that which is 10 terior. and
alloting to the trees only that which is suit.
able to their capacity, and the Increased
prices and quick sales will be more than o