The herald., 1893-05-07

Nearly every KIND OF fruit that grows
in California, except oranges and lem
ons, ia no doubt greatly improved in
quality by vigorous and iudicious thin
ming. Citrus fruits have tendency to
grow TO unmarketable sizes, hence no
thinning is resorted to in the citrus
growing regions. as general rule.
Peaches, apricote and pears require
thinning, and 1t is doubtful il the pro-
cess is generally carried far enough to
reach the best results. Mr.. j. III. Hale,
the well-known peach grower Of Con-
necticut, alleges that he has secured
good crops OF peaches after 95 per cent
OF the buds had been killed by cold
weather. He even thinned out some-
what in places after that. He asserts
that the largest size fruit, what he calls
"firets, sells at aix times the price re-
ceived for the medium and small fruit.
Quite general rule among the best
orchardiste in California; isg to thin so
that no two fruits shall be within the
width OF the hand OF each other. It is
claimed by some whose experience is
entitled to consideration, that the space
between fruits should be greater than
this, and that ak inchos Ia none too
great distance. While there may be
some question az to the best distance
between fruits left on the trees,
there can be none with progressive
orchardiats as to the prime necea-
city Of thinning the fruit. In
fact the question of thinning
fruits is much like that of the orgsniza-
tion of fruit growers. 1t cannot hence-
forth be regarded as merely incidental
and OF possible advantage. 1t is neces-
city, and no grower of peaches apricots
or pears for the market should fail to
take into account the probable expense
OF this necessary line OF orchard work. 1t
is Of co-equal Importance with pruning
and cultivation.
While the exact stage at which this
work should be done is not fully esteb-
lishod, yet we believe the weight of the
best practice is in favor OF that stage OF
the fruit where 1t is we'll formed, but be-
fore the seed has commenced to harden.
BY this time 1t can be known what fruit
is likely to mature II left, and 1t has not
drawn largely as yet upon the vitality OF
the tree. IL seems needless to 20 over
the ground and give in detail the rea-
sons why it iH best to thin deciduous
fruits. 1t should be clear on the face OF
it. But among the moet obvious ben.
efts is the increased size of the resulting
crop. Experience shows that II tree
'is of the proper size and age to fairly
mature 800 fruits, for example, II
ssy 800 are removed, the re-
manning 200 will reach nearly
the sarae weight that the or
iginal 500 would, and their much larger
size will cause them to sell for more
money and give a good deal better sat
isiaction. This 10 the fret and most OBJ
Vious as well as sufficient inducement to
properly thin out the fruit. But there
are other advantagea: The trees are
allowed TO mature only such number as
will not too greatly tax their vitality or
the strength Of the limbs. The work OF
picking, handling and packing ie much
less for large fruit than for email, and
thus q maximum of price with mimi
mum OF expense ia the outcome. The
chief concern which nature hae with
fruit crop iH to mature the seed. The
,pulpy part OF most fruits represents the
results OF mans manipulatious and
Vaccinations carried on in some cases
through almost countless ages, and
Transforming pod containing few
eeeds into navel orange without seeds,
or bitter, poisonous nut with hard
shell, into a luscious early Crawford
peach. The fewer the seeds, therefore,
the less strain upon the life forces OF the
tree and the soil.
Orchardists should show no timidity
when they go forth to thin their fruit.
Bear bold hand; and when you have
gone over the orchard vigorously once,
it may often prove an advantage to go
over il a second time. 1t is always we'll
to remember Mr.. Hsle's statement that
it is often possible to get good crop OF
peaches after 95 per cent of the buds
have been winter killed. A recollection
OF this fact may nerve the hand that
might otherwise falter at thinning time.