200 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



Summer pruning to reduce wood growth and promote bearing is 

 practiced to a limited extent in some districts upon varieties inclined to 

 shy bearing. In regions of the most intense summer heat, less pruning 

 is admissible than in the coast and elevated regions. It is necessary 

 that the foliage be dense to protect the tree and the fruit from sunburn. 

 Nor does the tree seem to relish cutting back. Slight thinning out if 

 the tree becomes too brushy, seems to be the best treatment in some of 

 the hot valleys. 



Thinning the Fruit. One of the most important items in the 

 handling of an apple orchard is the faithful thinning out of the fruit 

 of all varieties which are prone to over-bear, and this work is now 

 regularly provided for by the leading commercial growers. Only one 

 apple should grow at a place and spacing of four to six inches is com- 

 mended. Although this work is tedious and expensive, it is profitable, 

 because of the improved price which can be had for the larger fruit 

 which will be secured, and it is desirable in the effects of thinning on 

 the tree. It will be relieved from the exhaustion of overbearing, in- 

 duced to yield annual crops, and often saved from breaking down with 

 a too heavy burden. 



Cultivation and Irrigation. All that has been urged in measures 

 to secure adequate moisture supply has full force with the apple. Ex- 

 cepting the early varieties, it is a fruit with a long growing season and 

 therefore requires continuous moisture to secure size and quality. Most 

 California apples are grown on deep, retentive soils in regions of large 

 rainfall and if this is conserved by thorough cultivation, good fruit can 

 be secured. It is doubtless true, however, that apples in California 

 would sometimes be improved by irrigation just as they are in interior 

 and mountain districts. 



Fertilizers have been thus far but little used in California apple 

 orchards but they are manifestly needed. 



There has arisen recently evidence of the unfinished character of 

 the fruit in some districts because it has shown blemishes after picking 

 and during shipment which can not be attributed to any parasitic en- 

 croachment. This is probably due to some unfavorable condition in the 

 local climate or to some other stress upon the tree which prevents it 

 from doing perfect work. 



GATHERING AND STORING APPLES 



The disposition in this State, as elsewhere, is to allow the fruit to 

 hang too long upon the tree before gathering. It was long ago dem- 

 onstrated that an apple for long-keeping must be picked a little in ad- 

 vance of full maturity. As late fall weather in California is so delight- 

 ful, there is more temptation to delay the picking than where the 

 approach of winter admonishes the grower to get his fruit under cover. 

 Picking apples for shipment should be done just when the seeds begin 

 to blacken and when the fruit yields to pressure. If left on until fully 

 ripe, and the seeds all black, the fruit is apt not to keep well. This rule 

 applies to fall apples for shipment to distant markets, or for apples to 

 be stored at home. 



