Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1928-03-23
PLAN FOR BETTER SIZE
AND COLOR OF FRUIT

A new policy is to be followed by
Maryland fruit growers for the pur-
pose of obtaining better size and
color of fruit.
The means by which better size
and color may be obtained, are CIV
en- as follows:
1. Heavier pruning of old trees,
opening them up throughout by
small cuts, thinning out weak, shad-
ed and crossing interfering parts SO
that the sunlight may filter through
all parts of the trees.
2. Thinning of fruit, after the
June drop, by breaking clusters, and
spacing fruit according to size, age,
vigor, variety and soil conditions.
8. Use of organic matter, by
growing cover crops, that are either
turned under or moved and mulch
ed.
4. Judicious use of fertilizer to
keep trees vigorous and in healthy
condition.
5. Spraying thoroughly, using
good pressure and applying spray at
the proper time.
Formerly we talked about trees
and bulk production, today we talk
about sunlight in our orchards and
quality fruit. The added sunlight on
half the number of trees is giving
us a heavier production of first
grade apples and there is only one
answer to the question of too many
trees per acre and that is use the
axe This is true with us where we
have perpetual sunlight and it is
likely more applicable where there
is less sunlight.
Keep your trees open so you can
spray every bit of every tree and
then you can have a little hope of
getting good results from your
spraying.
Thinning, pruning and spraying
are very closely inter-related in
good orchard practices. With proper
pruning and opening up of the
trees much thinning can be avoided. |
On the other hand, careful thinning
can be made great aid to pruning
as the weight of the load is one of |
the greatest aids in directing growth
and position of the main fruiting
branches.
On heavily loaded trees, thinning
is an absolute necessity to insure
regular bearing and a large percen-
tage of extra fancy fruit
The heavy set is what we desire,
for we know that by thinning of all
excess fruit, particularly in the !
shaded portions of the trees soon ]
after the fruit sets, we can get a
maximum crop of large fruit in the [
outer, better lighted portions of the {
.ree. Often we take 1870 to 900 of 1
he fruit off the tree at thinning {
line. Tests show that when this is I
lone we still get the same number r
If boxes of apples as we would if a
he tree were not thinned. The per
ent of No. fruit is very high and F
he apples are large and command o
efficient premium on the market to t.
lay for the thinning. c
DR.. Bomberger, at the meeting, S
PRESENTED a table showing that low T
,rade appless were culled out be- u
ause of lack of size to the extent of
1920 and limb-rubbed to the extent is
f 1890, making total Of 500 Gull o
d for the two reasons which might
q eliminated by thinning, as that P
rould permit the sunshine to reach 7
II parts of the trees and develop l.
nd color the fruit and at the same jt
me prevent the rubbing of limbs. S
Discussing the action of the Mary K
md Horticultural Society, DR.. Bonn
erger said that in his opinion it is
aking a vital step in the right di- >
sction and that the policy advocated
y it would mean much in the way
{ profit if followed by growers Of
miles and neaches throughout the