FRUIT-GROWING. 73 



Bay State. Now, my object in writing, more particularly, 

 is to learn if there is any way known among men by which 

 it can be made to bear every year. I am willing to make 

 the effort, if I knew what to do. Please advise me." This 

 inquiry led me to think on the subject somewhat closely ; 

 and the advice I gave him is involved in the principle above 

 stated. I told him to remove one-half or two-thirds of the 

 fruit the bearing year by the time it had attained the size 

 of walnuts, then early in the fall work in the manure or 

 fertilizer, and in the spring following prune severely, if the 

 trees will bear it. In a letter received from him, dated Nov. 

 6, 1881, he says, "I must tell you about my orchard. I have 

 astonished the natives by raising a fair average crop of the 

 handsomest apples you ever saw, and the odd year at that. 

 I had but few in 1877, but quite a crop in 1879 ; but this 

 year my crop is quite equal to last year. You can hardly 

 imagine how much the thinning improves the apples in size. 

 I do not allow them to bear one-half as much as formerly, 

 and yet I realize much more for the crop. I feel confident 

 that your theory is the right one, and I also feel sure of a 

 crop of apples every year. An old Dutchman whose farm 

 joins mine seems to be perfectly bewildered at my success. 

 He says that he always Tcnowd a Yankee man could do every 

 thing, but didn't know he could do dat ting." 



I do not claim, of course, that a single experiment estab- 

 lishes a theory ; but that the remedy we are seeking lies in 

 this direction, I have not a particle of doubt : and I firmly 

 believe, if apple-raising could receive the careful and thought- 

 ful attention which its importance demands, that no depart- 

 ment of farm-husbandry would better reward the cultivator. 



From what has been already said, the imperative necessity 

 of thinning the fruit becomes apparent ; and, where there . is 

 a determination to do it, the process is not so tedious as 

 might at first be imagined. A light pole, the length depend- 

 ing on the size of the tree, with a wire spindle in the end, 

 and a codfish hook, or something resembling it, fastened by 

 the side of it, makes a very convenient implement for doing 

 the work. A moderate amount of skill, combined with good 

 judgment, is only required to complete the undertaking. In 

 relation to picking the fruit when ripe, I have only to say, 

 that that method is best, whatever it may be, which takes 



