132 ORCHARDS. 



leaves and branches. When we attempt to correct this dispo- 

 sition by thinning out the branches, we are hable to injure 

 the tree and fill the head .with water-sprouts. We must bring 

 into actual use this much praised but seldom practiced expe- 

 dient — "thinning-out." It is applicable to the pear and peach 

 also — and, the idea is not so much to lessen the leverage 

 and weight as to prevent excessive production — for it is held 

 as an established fact that excessive reproduction destroys or 

 impairs vitality, not only as regards the vegetable but also 

 the animal economy. Many of our seedling apple trees 

 have never been properly pruned, or pruned at all, during all 

 their growth, and have arrived at maturity with a great crowd 

 of branches, a compact, bushy head, and will produce but little 

 and very small inferior fruit. Such trees should not be suf- 

 fered to remain in any orchard, unless quite sound and healthy, 

 when new tops of choice varieties could be given them by 

 o;raftincr. 



It is well known to all experienced fruit growers that those 

 varieties that have open heads — as the Domine, Stanard, Hol- 

 land Pippin, Wine Saj), Minker, and many others produce fair 

 annual crops, and, all things considered, are much the most 

 reliable and profitable; whilst those of more compact bushy 

 heads, as the Lowel, Northern Spy, Winter Russet, Yellow 

 Bellefleur, and all others of this class are inclined to produce 

 biennial crops, with a strong tendency to overbear. The 

 plum and cherry are seldom pruned. At Alton, 111., "Dr. 

 Hull trims out the heads of the peach, and removes the fruit 

 from all twigs that fall heloiv a horizontal line. His fruit is 

 the largest sent to market and commands the highest price. 

 Others cut back so as to thicken the head of the tree, and to 

 protect the fruit from the direct rays of the sun ; while all 

 parties thin out the fruit. Thus far there has been about the 

 same success with both the above plans; one producing the 

 most fruit, and the other commanding the highest price." 



When the fruit is about the size of a grape or small hickory 

 nut, "bring out the ladders" and relieve those trees that are 

 overburdened. Some may require half the crop to be picked 

 off — ^'others less. The orchardist will exercise his own judg- 



