FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. ' 53 



effects of an insufficient equipment were splendidly illustrated in an 

 eighty acre apple orchard in Leelanau County a year ago. Two sprayers 

 were expected to take care of the orchard; one was in poor repair and 

 failed to work most of the time. Each spraying was begun on the same 

 side of the orchard, the west, if I remember correctly, and eight days 

 were required to cover all the trees. The work was done carefully and 

 Avell, but the time occupied was too long. It was easy to notice that tlie 

 fruit became more affected with diseases and insects, especially scab, 

 as we went through the orchard toward the east, indicating that the 

 trees sprayed first were protected, but, as the spraying progressed, it 

 failed to protect because the insects and diseases had an opportunity to 

 get their destruction started. I preume most of you have had similar 

 experiences. 



THINNING APPLES. 



I'here has been so much said here in regard to thinning apples that 

 I do not think I ought to take time to add anything. 1 was very glad 

 to hear Mr. Case tell about the good results of thinning Baldwins. You 

 know all experimental work has indicated that the off l}earing.year of 

 Baldwins, cannot be prevented by thinning. Mr. Case brings good news 

 but it appears that his success is due to his thinning when the trees 

 first begin to bear, which prevents their forming the habit of bearing 

 heavy one year and lightly the next. 



I have talked to a great many apple growers at my orchard demon- 

 strations throughout the state, about the advantage of thinning apples, 

 peaches and plums and whenever I have encountered men who have 

 tried it, they almost invariably agree that it is a profitable operation and 

 would always do so if the trees need it and they can possibly get the 

 time and labor to do it. If you have not tried it, do just once and be 

 convinced. You say it costs money to thin. It may cost twenty-five, 

 thirty-five or even forty-five cents a tree, but nevertheless, if you measure 

 the time gained in picking, grading and packing, you will find you have 

 ]iot added to, but lessened, the cost of your crop and, best of all, you 

 have added greatly to the quality and value of it. 



Mr. Case — As a matter of principle, I will not allow a crop not to be 

 thinned in my orchard. If the money spent in grading will be spent in 

 thinning, you will make money eveiw time. 



Mr. White — That is true unless one over-thins, which I hasten to say is 

 rarely done. I want to branch off this subject of getting better crops 

 and just mention one phase of marketing which I believe would produce 

 better packing and secure better prices. Those of you who are shipping 

 to a commission market, you pack your own apples, peaches, etc. You 

 think you pack them well and do with all good intention but actually, 

 friends, many of you don't know what all gets into the baskets and bar- 

 rels. What I Vi^ant to suggest is this, that you ought to visit your market 

 occasionally and see your fruit come in; see how it arrives and how it 

 appears to the trade who are to use it. I'll venture to say many of you 

 would be greatly surjjrised. I presume the man who packed (?) the 

 barrel of apples I have on exhibition in the other hall, has no idea there 

 are so many worthless apples in it; perhaps he does, but at any rate, if 

 he should encounter it upon a market such as Chicago or Milwaukee, I 

 believe, it would be a revelation to him. If fruit growers visited their 



