New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 17 



The treatment of diseases and insects is of perennial interest to 

 fruit growers. A bulletin has been prepared on this subject by 

 the collaboration of the Horticulturist, the Botanist and the En- 

 tomologist for the purpose of presenting up-to-date directions 

 for fighting these enemies of the fruit grower and showing the 

 particular instances in which various diseases and insectsTnay be 

 combated with one general treatment. The preparation of spray 

 mixtures and the apparatus for applying them are treated in 

 Bulletin 121, prepared by Mr. Paddock. This has been supple- 

 mented by publishing an appendix which treats of recently im- 

 proved apparatus and gives formulae for the preparation of 

 various spraying mixtures. 



Thinning apples. — Experiments have been in progress for four 

 years for the purpose of gaining definite information concerning 

 the effect which thinning the fruit of apple trees may have on 

 the remaining crop and whether the practice if followed system- 

 atically year after year tends to secure greater regularity in 

 bearing or increased yield in succeeding seasons. 



The results show that with certain varieties the size and color 

 of the fruit are generally improved where thorough and timely 

 thinning is done and the percentage of the higher grades of fruit 

 is increased, although the total yield of marketable fruit is often 

 lessened. It appears that under certain circumstances, and es- 

 pecially with certain varieties, the thinning of apples in commer- 

 cial orchards would be profitable. 



With mature trees which have come into full bearing and 

 which are properly fertilized, pruned, sprayed and generally well 

 cared for, it is doubtful whether thinning the fruit in any one 

 season will materially increase the yield in succeeding seasons. 

 It should be borne in mind that young trees which have not 

 come into full bearing may be seriously impaired in vigor and 

 in subsequent fruit production by being allowed to mature too 

 heavy crops. 



If appears that, with the exception noted, the principal source 

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