West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-08-14
THINNING OUT FRUIT.
a Process That Must Be Resorted to
the Product BE Satisfactory

Process That Must Bs Resortcd to n
the Product BE Satisfactory.
This operation is of equal importance
with pruning or attention to the soil;
yet how few are aware of it, and fewer
still disposed to practice i'll 1t is pit,
TO them to see the fruit cut down, and
the task seems out of proportion to the
profit TO be derived from it, if indeed
there is any profit; which is very much
doubted So the trees are allowed to
oyerbear, and the fruit to remain small
and OF inferior quality, the unrelieved
strain tending to and establishing bien.
NAL fruiting.
Now as such fruit is of reduced val
Tie. and almost worthless as a market
fruit, why not experiment a little.
only with siuglc tree, or even but a
part of the tree, which is certainly nc
difficult task, taking but few minute,
OF time? But let the test be carried
far enough to get the full benefit. which
requires the removal of from two-thirds
to throc-fourths of The fruit if the tree i,
prolific bearer. The difficulty usual
ly Is IN not removing enough. When
closely set let not less than three.
iourths be removed, leaving the remain
ing fruit equally distributed through
the tree. The result will be- about the
same amount of fruit rs if lett unthin-
ned. and 50 improved as TO seem An
other sort in flavor and quality. as well
as in size. which will be three or four
times as large as if left unthinned, cor
spending TO the proportion removed. 1t
Will also he found that the work is not
near so arduOus rs was supposed Use
q convenient ladder, and thin out by
hand. removing the inferior specimens
The proper time 60 do this is when the
fruit has attained about tho size of n
Cherry among qu tie small growing
sorts; otherwise little larger Even
when thinu ny is neglected TIN the fruit
IS half grown, il viii BIO labor well
spent TO thin Out; bat for q fair test IT.
should be done early.
As IS well known, there is a great
difference in the bearing quality of
trees, and we find this featurc2fhat
the shy bearers have usually large fruit.
and the prolific small 1t is impossible
for the latter TO grow their numerous
specimens as large as the fruit of thr
former But if thinned out so rs fo
equal the other i'm distribution. There
will bee much loss difference i'm the size
Of the fruit
II % thinning is added free PRUNING of
the branches aud attention 10 Che soil
Improvement may bc carried to the OK.
tent OF materially changing the
character OF the fruit. making of % poor
variety % comparatively good one. not
only with young trees. which seem
moic susceptible of change i'm this re-
spcct but OLD neglected ones. which 10
is not generally difficult TO roiuvenate.
and give "a now lease of life. with fhc
fruit improved far beyond what rhc
former usually bad trcatm mt afforded
NO highly prolific tree h1s sufficient
kor 20 grow Che fruit large the de-
mand is simply too great and the train
ls huriul TO thc tree, consisting mainly
~ the rcc effort to grow and mature
Do. -""d This 10 viii dO or fail. And
th- concentration upon tlc seed Is 90
the expense Of Che remainder of The
FRUIT affecting its size and quality. The
core Wli remain much the same If
Che demand here as lcssened. which 10
viii bee Ivy the reduction of tire number
OF core or specimens of fruit. Che lib
orhtod force Of the tree will bo EN-
plOyed, among other things, in growing
ihe Ties and improving the flavor I'D
quality Of tbc fruit, leaving the tree at
the same time in healthy condition
A. o. H Country 0eUHemaR.