CHAPTER XII 

 THINNING THE FRUIT 



The general tendency from man's standpoint is for peach 

 trees to overbear. From nature's standpoint the ultimate 

 function of the tree is to reproduce its kind, which left to 

 itself it does through the abundance of the seeds that it 

 matures. In this respect nature is frequently lavish in the 

 extreme. She is concerned with numbers only, while man 

 has learned in his experience with peach trees that there is 

 incompatibility between numbers and the size of the fruit 

 which best suits his purpose. 



This experience may be said to be universal. There is 

 perhaps no other operation concerning the desirability of 

 which there is a more complete oneness of opinion among 

 peach-growers than in regard to thinning w^hen the trees are 

 overloaded. There may not be the same accord in all cases 

 with regard to practice nor concerning the amount of fruit a 

 tree ought to be allowed to bear. These points, however, 

 admit of no arbitrary settlement. There is some difference 

 in varieties and in trees of the same variety differing in 

 strength and vigor with regard to the amount of fruit they 

 should carry. 



In the chapter on pruning the significance of the position 

 of the fruit-buds with reference to some features of that 

 operation was pointed out ; also the relation to it of certain 



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