The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-06-09
II requires Nerve to Properly Thin
Peaches.

Assuming that the trees have been
pruned to shapely tops, there are three
principal reasons why thinning pays.
First, the effect it has on the tree.
Seed production is very exhaustive pro-
cess, much more so than the fruit flesh.
Other processes, such as new wood, and
especially foliage, assist in the assimila-
ton of plant foods, Leaves of plants
act for plant life similar TO lungs in ami
NAL life. In fact, foliage might be called
the lungs of the plant, while seeds and
pits assimilate nothing, but draw heav-
lily on stored energy in the tree.
Second, proper thinning increases the
yield in bushels. A peach two inches in
diameter is four times greater than one
an inch In diameter. Large peaches
cost much less TO produce than an equal
amount of smaller ones.
Third, the quality and color are very
important factors, and tree that over
bears cannot give that quality and color
so necessary to tempt the purchaser.
Beside, the tree never fully receivers the
injury received therefrom. 1t has been
thinned to three inches apart on the
limb that it has become a kind of an iron
rule that must be strictly adhered to.
Now, TO thin to three inches is well as
general rule to work to and is probably
correct, but good judgment must be used
in connection with this rule, making it
more elastic, for different varieties re-
quire different treatment. Some varie-
ties set fruit quite evenly along last
seasons growth OF wood. 10 such case
the rule might apply. Other varieties
set the bulk of their fruit more in
cluster on the inner part of yearllng
wood with little or no fruit near the end
On varieties of this nature to thin until
no peach is nearer than three inches to
any other would be thinning too much
or more than is necessary. a peach on
the opposite side of the limb from
another and one and one-half inches
from it will give as good results as if
they were farther separated or on the
same side of the limb if not near enough
to admit of either crowding the other off
while maturing, providing that the thin
ming is done to degree that will admit
Of the tree being able to carry the crop
to the highest degree of perfection. To
do this requires judgment. An indi-
vidual tree favorably located can carry
much larger crop than another tree of
the same age and variety not so well To-
Gated. Some varieties require more
thinning than others. Lewis, Barnard,
Gold Drop and others require very thor
ough thinning, more so than the average
grower has the nerve to perform. 1t
will soon be time to begin thinning. Be-
gin on the earlier varieties before the
June dropping is fully past. We found
it better 20 begin in the top of the tree
and work down. You can the better in
spect your work and are less liable to
miss limbs. A second inspection of the
trees should be made month later and
i'll shaped peaches pulled off, which if
allowed to remain would only make culls.
Let us bear in mind that this is year of
a general crop in Michigan, and that there
is certain to be an abundance of num-
Der two stock at low price, but number
one and better will bring the profit. As
the crop south and west is extremely
light the demand for good stock will
more than equal the supply. Brace up
your nerve and thin to produce the bet
ter grades.