194 Thinning of Fruits. 



larger part, of the fruit had been removed, the I'emaining specimens 

 would not only have filled nearly or quite as great a bulk, but would 

 have sold quickly at the top prices of the market. One of our farmers, 

 near Boston, always thins his fruit — another, adjoining his orchard, 

 neglects it. The location and ti'eatment of these two orchards, in other 

 respects, are much the same ; but the former realizes for his crop of 

 Baldwin apples about four dollars and a half per barrel, while the lat- 

 ter, standing by his side in the market, receives less than three dollars 

 and a half for his. 



The case is still stronger with the pear, which, growing on smaller 

 trees, is more easily thinned, and the prices obtained for the fruit afford 

 a better remuneration for the labor of thinning. While those properly 

 thinned and cared for will command four dollars per bushel, those 

 of the common run will not bring more than two dollars ; and 

 this rule applies not only to fruits, but to all vegetable productions. 

 Eveiy one has observed that the overbearing of a fruit tree one year is 

 likely to result in barrenness the next. Hence the necessity of thinning 

 our fruits so as to avoid exhaustion of the tree, and to keep up a regular 

 succession of good fruit. Even the Baldwin apple, which, from its 

 great productiveness, bears only on alternate years, we think might, by 

 thinning, be made to bear annual crops. 



When fruits are crowded, they are not only deprived of light, air, 

 and warmth, but actually of room, so that the adjacent sides of two 

 fruits are compressed, and they fail of their full development. Not 

 merely the form, but the color, is improved by thinning ; for without 

 light fruit can never attain perfect color. When fruits are crowded in 

 clusters, they are particularly liable to be attacked by insects and dis- 

 ease ; and therefore the necessity, if we wish perfect specimens, for 

 removing a part, so that no two fruits shall touch each other. This 

 necessity is especially strong in the case of the peach and plum, where 

 rot is liable to be communicated by contact. These should be so 

 severely thinned, when young, as to make it certain that they will not 

 touch each other when fully grown. In every case, in performing 

 the operation, it should not be forgotten that the danger, when we 

 have a large croj:) to begin with, is not of thinning too severely, but 

 the reverse. 



