176 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



light load. The points in favor of thinning are an even distribu- 

 tion of fruit on the tree, larger size, brighter color, better quality 

 and flavor, more fancy and first class fruit, less culls, higher prices 

 and trees in better condition for a crop the following year. 



J > 



Results of Experiments in Thinning Apples. 



The results of experiments in thinning apples carried through in four 

 different states, viz, Ohio, Delaware, Utah and Colorado, are here 

 recorded. The work in Ohio was done by F. H. Ballou. In a series 

 of different experiments, variety of fruit not given, 9 trees in all were 

 thinned and 6 left for checks. The average gain per tree was $1.35, 

 the average percentage of first grade fruit from thinned trees was 76, 

 and from unthinned 47. Bulletin 240 of the Ohio Experiment Station 

 contains all information relative to these experiments. 



In Delaware Prof. C. P. Close selected a block of 8 Lankford seedling 

 trees; 4 of these were thinned and 4 left without thinning, as checks. 

 The report for this station, dated June 30, 1902, gives the results of this 

 experiment. The thinned trees yielded from 1^ to 3 times as much 

 first grade fruit as did the unthinned; the former produced 116^ 

 baskets and the latter 117f. While in this case the amount of fruit 

 picked from the trees was about equal, that from the thinned trees 

 averaged so much better that there was no question but that the 

 operation paid. 



Leon D. Batehelor of the Utah Experiment Station records some of 

 his experimental work in thinning Ben Davis and Jonathan apples, in 

 Circular No. 12. His work extended through the seasons of 1911 and 

 1912 and we quote in part from him as follows : 



"Ben Davis (8-year-old trees) 4 trees per plot, 1911. The thinned plot was 

 thinned to a minimum distance of 4 inches. 

 1911. 



Net increase, 4 trees $4 66 



Net increase per tree 1 1^ 



Net increase per acre 133 40 



(Trees were set 16 by 24, making 115 to the acre.) 

 Jonathans — • 



Net increase per tree v 30 



Net increase per acre 34 50 



Jonathan trees (9 years old) 1912. 



Net increase per tree * '1 



Net increase per acre °1 "^ 



In the above calculation for 1912, no charge was made for thinning. 

 Experience shows this is fully paid for in reduced cost of sorting, when the 

 fruit is packed. The culls were salable in 1912 at 10 cents per hundred 

 pounds for cider, while this grade was a total loss in 1911." 



In 1910 R. S. Herrick of the Colorado Experiment Station did some 

 work in thinning the Winesap. His results were published in Bulletin 

 No. 170 of the Colorado Experiment Station. A record of 8 thinned 

 trees was kept and compared with a record of 2 unthinned. The gain 

 per tree in favor of the thinned was $1.85^ or estimating 85 trees to 

 the acre the gain per acre would be $157.25. The cost of thinning these 

 trees which were 13 years old and large for their age, was about 64 cents 

 per tree. The following "table copied from his bulletin shows how 

 heavily trees may be thinned and still produce a big crop. It shows 



