The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-07-02
It Pays to Thin Fruit.

OF all orchard operations none is
more neglected than the thinning of
the trees when they have set more
fruit than they can develop, as is Of
tentimes the case. The years when
the trees particularly need thinning
are those when all varieties are
bearing, as then the prices of ordi-
nary fruit will be low, but there is
always demand for fancy fruit at
good prices, and the removal of one
half or tlwo-thirds of the fruit on a
tree will not only double the size of
the remainder, but, by changing il
from No. 2 to No. /. or fancy, raise
the value proportionately.
Many persons are afraid to thin
their fruit, fearing that after the
thinning has been done, even more
may be made to drop from other
causes. 1t is true that what is
known as the June drop" often re-
moves a large part of the crop, but
these as a rule are fruits that have
been attacked by scab, curculio, cod
ling moth, or other fungi or insects,
all of which can be controlled by
proper spraying. Really this need
not be seriously considered as the
thinning should not be done until
the drop is over. AS a rule, the sur
plus fruits should be removed before
the seeds or pits begin to harden,
For apples, pears and peaches this
be when they are about the size of a
hickory nut.
How Much to Thin.-Just how
many fruits should be left upon a
tree will depend upon the variety, as
we'll as on the size and condition Of
the tree. The peach and pear are es-
pecially benefited by thinning, and
peaches should not be closer than
four inches on the branches, while If
the variety is large one and the
fruit is well distributed through a
rather thick head, it will be better If
they are six or eight inches, or even
should be only one pear upon a fruit
spur, and it will also pay well to
thin the fruit on apple trees when
there are several in a cluster. If the
large varieties of plums are thinned
so that the fruits will not touch, it
will lessen the injury from brown
rot.
Benefits from Thinning.-In addi-
ton to increasing the size and dual,
ity of the fruit and thus enhancing
its value, the thinning of fruit has
other advantages. 1t often saves the
trees from serious injury by prevent
ing the breaking down of the over
laden branches and tends to make
them more regular in bearing.
There are many varieties which will
produce full crop one year and, as
the full vigor of the trees is used in
developing the crop, they are not
able to form fruit buds for a crop
the next season; hence they become
known as 'odd-year" bearers. This
can to large extent be changed by
the removal Of a portion of the
fruit, as although the crop may be
just as large in bushels, the increase
is largely in water, and it is the de-
velopment of the seeds and pits that
saps the vitality of the trees.
Thinning Makes Picking Easier
Many fail to thin their trees because
they consider it a serious task.
They should understand that the
fruit will have to be picked at some
time and it certainly is no more
work to pick off one-half when part
ly grown and drop them on the
ground and then pick the other half
when ripe, than it is to pick all of
the fruit when ripe and carefully
place it in baskets. The former
method permits of a part of the
work being done at a time when
work is slack, while the other puts
It all in the rush of the harvest sea-
SON.
Thinning by Pruning.-The Ia
Dor of thinning fruit trees can be
1essened If the trees are
pruned with the idea of removing
portion Of the fruit buds. This
method is particularly helpful in the
case of peaches and plums, while
with apples and pears, although
heading back can be practiced to ad-
with young trees, the prun-
ng for the purpose of thinning the
'ruit should be in the way of open
ng up the heads.
l.. r. Taft,
Agricultural COLLAGE Mich