DinSIOX OF HORTICULTURE 



601 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Though it will be seen by the foregoing table that more apples were picked from 

 the thinned than from the unthinned trees, yet when the number of fruits removed 

 from the thinned tree are taken into consideration we have a total of 4037 in the 

 thinned tree against a total of 3897 apples on the unthinned tree. 



By making a comparison between the number of apples on each tree before thin- 

 ning took place and the number of pounds of fruit taken from each tree and by cal- 

 culating the weight of 100 apples as picked from the trees, we find that we have a 

 decrease in weight due to thinning of 1-2 pounds in every 100 fruits picked, which 

 gives a total decrease of 43 pounds in the fruit picked from the thinned tree. 



By taking the per cents of Nos. 1, 2, 3, and cull fruit as obtained from the 

 unthinned tree we have had -18 barrels No. 1, -04 barrels No, 2, -10 barrels No. 3, and 

 • 0085 barrels cull fruit, which would have been worth at the prices given below, 72 

 cents, 11, 11, and no cents respectively. Making a total of $0.94. 



As this is a loss due to thinning it should be deducted from the total increase on 

 the thinned tree as shown below. 



Values of Thinned and Unthinned Fruit. 



Balance in favour of thinning per tree, taking picked apples $ 



Deduction due to loss in total crop from thinning (as shown) 



Real increase in value from thinning per tree 



Taking twenty bearing trees per acre per year the increased value from thin- 

 ning 1 acre is 



2^69 



•94 



1-75 



35 00 



The price per barrel as given in foregoing table was the average price obtained by 

 che United Fruit Companies of Nova Scotia, Ltd., for their first cargo of Graven- 

 steins shipped to England. 



ORCHAKD SURVEYING. 



For the purpose of getting information relative to the methods followed by 

 orchardists, a sur\-ey was made during August of fifty orchards in Kings county. 



DISTANCE OF PLANTING. 



In many mature orchards the trees have not sufficient space to admit of a free 

 circulation of air and to allow proper cultivation, haiwesting and spraying. The 

 fruit on the lower branches lack in colour, and the fruit buds on these branches lack 

 in vigour. There seems to have been a tendency in recent years to plant even closer 

 than formerly, which means that either a much more vigorous system of pruning back 

 will have to be followed on the filler trees, or else many of these trees will have to be 

 removed, if a first grade crop is to be obtained. Healthy foliage and well-coloured 

 fruit cannot be expected under close-planted conditions unless a vigorous pruning, 

 to give plenty of sunlight and air circulation, is practised. 



Kextvtlle. 



