FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. 71 



a tree that it takes years to secure and that money will not replace, 

 broken down by overloading. Nor does one want to go to the expense 

 of propping, an inefficient resort at its best. For example Mr. O. K. 

 White thinned a Hubbardston apple tree at Bear Lake this last season. 

 He took off over 1,100 apples although several people thought that the 

 tree could have matured the whole load. The tree next to it and 

 similar in load was left. This fall the unthinned tree had lost a large 

 branch by breaking down. This season has made you all familiar 

 with such danger. 



Let us take as next in importance the size, color and quality of the 

 fruit. Any amount of bulletins bear out the common knowledge that 

 thinning will increase the size of the individual fruits without mak- 

 ing any decrease in the total bulk. Further this allows more sun- 

 light to get in, meaning more color. It allows more thorough spray- 

 ing meaning higher quality in every way. Here is what one Michigan 

 man did. Mr. C. B. Cook, of Owosso, harvested last year over 60 bushels 

 of choice Snows from one tree. These apples sold in Saginaw for $6.00 

 per barrel. Besides other care Mr. Cook had two men put in 1% days 

 thinning the fruit on this tree for it had set several times over a rea- 

 sonable load. Of course the thinning paid though, that is, more than the 

 cost for the usual run of trees. 



Then there is the ease of picking and packing choice, even-sized fruit. 

 It costs less to get rid of the extra fruits at thinning time as they are 

 simply dropped. The total bulk at harvest time is the same while the 

 quality is much better hence the better price. This summer on the 

 W. M. Pratt & Sons farm at Benton Harbor, I counted Bed Astrachan 

 apples as actually graded into number ones and twos. In a half bushel 

 of ones were 60 apples. In a half bushel of twos were 130 apples or 

 over twice as many individual fruits in an equal bulk. The 130 apples 

 are of course harder on the tree than the 60 for they will not be so 

 advantageously placed as well as meaning over twice as many seeds to 

 mature with their attendant drain of vitality. 



As a last point take the matter of annual bearing. It is probably an 

 error to place much confidence in the idea that thinning is a sure pro- 

 moter of annual bearing;. Some varieties are habitually inclined to bear 



'&■ 



onlv every other year and it is doubtful if thinning will overcome this 

 tendency. 



Beach of the Geneva Station declares that no benefit along this line 

 was noticed with Baldwins. Many horticulturists, however, believe that 

 thinning is an inducement toward annual bearing and it is a reason- 

 aide supposition, especially with those varieties of apples not inherently 

 bi-annual bearers, and also with peaches, pears and plums. Additional 

 strength in the tree in the fall ought to insure fruit buds every year 

 and ones of good vitality. 



The methods of thinning are quite simple. Much can be accomplished 

 by judicious pruning, leaving the right amount of bearing wood to 

 each branch. When necessary to hand thin, leave no two fruits touch- 

 ing. Thin peaches to about 4 inches apart and apples much the same; 

 at least only one apple on a spur. Plums and pears are thinned ac- 

 cordingly, always depending on the size of the variety and the condition 

 of the tree. As to time, do it early in the season right following the 



