The herald., 1897-05-28
Thinning Fruit

world takes higher rank than does Prof
L. H. Bailey of Cornell university, New
York. Prof. Bailey inherits something
of his proficiency in this line of work and
study. Mr. l.. H. Bailey, ST., owns one
of the finest apple orchards in the State
Of Michigan. He is located just across
the lake from Chicago. For years, Mr..
Bailey, sr., secured for his apples con-
siderable advance on the regular mar
ket price and so great was his reputa-
.fon that he had not to seek market
but would-be purchasers always came,
much in advance, that they might Sc
cure this fruit The editor of this de-
partment, while upon a visit at the or
chard referred to above, asked Mr.. Bal
ley why it was that he had gained such
q wide reputation for the excellence OIL
his fruit. In giving his reply, Mr.. Bal
ley placed great stress upon the 1act that
he never let a year go by without thih-
ming his fruit. A year or two after this
upon a second visit to this orchard we
saw a number of boys going around un-
der the trees with long pole, forked
at the upper end. These boys had 1T for
their business 70 force the forming fruit
from the trees. At the same time they
would always take off apples where
any stain at the blossom end showed
the codling moth was working on the
fruit. In this way two birds were Killed
with one stone; the desired thinning
was accomplished and the codling moth
larva was destroyed. Mr.. Bailey said
that by little watching, and good pay
for good work, these boys did excellent
ly well, and were an, invaluable factor
in securing the splendid fruit which al
WAYS recommended itself in any market
where it was offered for sale.
The advantages of thinning are mani
fold. 1t is well-known that more energy
is required to develop the seeds than any
other part of the fruit Any one to ex-
anime the seed will notice that its ma
terial is very compact and must require
much nutriment for its full develop
ment. If a tree is permitted to bear
great many apples, it stands to reason
that far greater number OF seeds are
mature, and thus not only is the energy
of the tree depleted, but large amount
uf nourishment is taken from the SOIL
BY judicious and proper thinning the
number of these seeds is very much
lessened and thus we can serve not only
the health and vigor of the tree, but also
the nourishment which goes to feed it..
Again, as everyone has observed, if a
tree bears very heavily. the fruit will
be small and usually of lees flavor. 1t
is equally apparent that small fiavorless
fruit never commands a high price in
the market. Here then, is second ad-
vantage. BY thorough system OF
thinning W. secure much finer, larger
fruit and will thus be enabled to sell our
fruit much more easily and secure a
much higher price for it,. There is still
another great advantage in a wise thin
ming out of the fruit just as it is begin
ming to form. Every observing person
has noticed that many of our fruit trees
only bear alternate years; while very
many others bear much more heavily
every other year. During the year Of
heavy bearing the fruit is apt to be very
small anl almoet without value. 1t would
be far more profitable to have a mod
crate crop of splendid fruit every year.
While this may not be secured by any
method in all cases, yet it may often be
secured and very likely will be if proper
young fruit just as it is beginning to
form. If trees are permitted to bear
heavily whenever they set a full crop
the treee are so depleted in vigor that
they must rest the following year or
they would soon die outright. Thus the
commonly observed fact of "off years"
is simply matter of necessity The tree
is simply working for preservation.
To sum up then, every orchardist should
thin his fruit, first that he may not pro-
duce the excess of expensive seeds, Sec
ond. that he may produce the best of
fruits. and third. that he may produce
regularly a. fair supply of firstclass
fruit every season.
HOW TO THIN.
There are two ways that thinning may
be accomplished. In the first place, by
wise pruning, very.much can be done in
the direction of thinning the fruit. There
is much to be said in favor of pruning
Ii makes the trees much more beautiful
makes it easier to gather the fruit adds
to the vigor of the tree and last, but fai
from least, it is an inexpensive way OF
doing this necessary thinning. In many
cases, the orchardist can secure suffi-
cient thinning by pruning alone, though
in most cases, at least in seasons Of
heavy bearing, this should be supple.
mented by special thinning of the fruit
Ii is probable that much might be done
in this direction by employing boys
who would often work for much less
than would have to be paid for men. BY
Use of a money inducement and little
special superintendent at first, any
bright boy can be secured to do this work
just as well and often much more rapid
ly than it can possibly be done by mosi
men. The boy is small and supple and
can get quickly around among tht
branches. We often think that boys
are good for nothing; when the truth is
that by use of little tact we can secure
from them the very best of service. W.
can well afford to pay them somethine
extra, for even then we will get our SER
vice considerably cheaper than though
we employed men to perform the work
I have several times the present season
observed men thinning out the apricot.
and prunes, when / am sure a brgh
boy could have been secured at far les.
expense who would have done Just al
WELL if rightly managed, and woulc
have worked with greater agility thai
did the man.
WHEN TO THIN.
1t was stated above that one purpos,
Of thinning was to save the vigor of th
tree. 1t follows from this, that we can
not be too early in thinning after tn,