474 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



protection to tlu' roots. The author rccomnu'iiiLs that the orchard be plowed late in 

 the autumn to act as a winter mulch. On steep hillsides where cultivation is not 

 possible the orchard should be mowed and the grass piled around the trunks. When 

 the snow is not over 6 in. deep it is recommended that in addition to late plowing 

 the trees be mulched with coarse manure or litter for a distance of 3 to 6 ft. from the 

 trunk. 



Thinning apples, S. A. Be.U'it {Ncv York StateSta. Bui. 239, pp. 107-224, ph. 2). — 

 Exiu'rimcnts were made V)y the author covering a period of 4 years in thinning apples, 

 to determine the effect of thinning on size, color, cjuality, and yield of fruit; the 

 amount of the different grades of fruit; the influence of thinning in promoting regular 

 annual bearing; and finally the cost and profitablene.ss of thinning apples. 



The varieties of apples under observation were Baldwin, Hubbardston, Nonesuch, 

 and Rhode Island Greening. Three methods of thinning w'ere practiced. By the 

 first method all wormy, knotty, or otherwise undesirable fruits were removed and 

 each cluster thinned to 1 fruit. The second and third methods were similar to the 

 first, except that the fruits were thinned to not less than 4 and 6 in. apart respec- 

 tively. The data obtained in the experiments are given quite fully in tabular form 

 and discussed. 



In seasons of heavy crojis, thinning was found to heighten the color of both yellow 

 and red fruits and to increase the size of the fruit. When only a small crop was set 

 thinning had no appreciable influence on either color or size. With Rhode Island 

 Greening, which has a tendency to bear more regularly and produce smaller crops, 

 the effect of thinning was less noticeable than with Baldwin and Hubbardston. As 

 to the influence of thinning on the regularity of bearing, the experiments with all 

 3 varieties are fairly uniform in showing no material cliange in either the amount of 

 fruit grown or the regularity of its production by thinning. 



Data sufficient to furnish a basis for specific directions as to distances apart to thin 

 apples were not ol)tained in this experiment. This is a matter that depends upon 

 the amount of fruit that sets, its distribution on the tree, and the ability of the indi- 

 vidual tree to bring fruit to perfection. Supplementary evidence covering a i)eriod 

 of 10 years and tending to show the variability in productiveness of trees of the 

 same variety from year to year are given for several Rhode Island Greening trees. 

 The data bring out the fact that some trees regularly produce year after year 

 heavier crops than others. 



Where thinning is practiced the author advises that the work be begun within 3 

 or 4 weeks after the fruit sets, even if the June drop is not yet over. In these experi- 

 ments the time required for thinning and harvesting the apples on the thinned trees 

 was about twice as great as the time required for harvesting the fruit from the 

 unthinned trees. It is believed that the cost of thinning a well-loaded apple tree 

 should not exceed 50 cts. 



As to the market value and profitableness of thinning, the experiments show that 

 the thinned trees bear a larger percentage of first-grade fruit than unthinned trees, 

 and that the fruit is mucii better adapted for making fancy grades. When this fancy 

 fruit can be marketed in boxes or barrels in quantity buyers are likely to give i 

 higher price for it. The opinion of a practical grower, in whose orchard the experi- 

 ments were conducted, is to the effect that when there is a heavy set of apples and 

 the likelihood of a large crop of small fruit general, it will pay to thin to such an 

 extent as to insure good-sized fruit; otherwise not, except as a protection to the tree. 



Should apples be thinned ? F. H. Hall and S. A. Beach {New York State Sta. 

 Bui. 239, pojmlar ed.,]ip. 10). — A popular summary of the above bulletin. 



The effect of grass on [apple] trees, Duke of Bedford and S. U. Pickering 

 ( Wohvrn Expt. Fruit Farm Bpt. 1903, pp. 56, ph. 3). — Some data showing the injuri- 

 ous effects of grass on the growth of fruit trees were reported by the authors 3 years 



