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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



The orchard includes ten acres of Rome Beauties and ten of Stayman 

 Winesap, Arkansas Black, Black Ben, and Vanderpool Red. The summer 

 pruning is done in June and again in August. In June the new growth is 

 eight or ten inches long on the average. It is not cut back, but thinned out 

 to keep the trees open enough, but not to allow sunburn. Suckerous growth 

 especially is removed. The only cutting back at that time is to direct the 

 growth of undesirably-pointed limbs into another direction. Rome Beauty 

 especially is hard to spread enough, so all cutting back is done to an outside 

 bud. The Winesaps naturally spread, and may need direction upward. A 

 branch may be growing in a direction where it would cross another by 

 winter and have to be taken out then. There is much less wasted energy 

 if it is cut out early. Late in August comes the really vigorous pruning, 

 when the new growth is two to four feet long. It is cut back and thinned 

 some more. Then in winter there is only some small brush to cut out. 



Mr. F. W. Dunscombe of Beaumont, San Bernardino County, has 

 for a number of years promoted bearing in young apple trees in 

 this way : 



After four years old, there is usually no need to prune an apple tree 

 for increased size. Turn the tree's energies into bearing instead of wood 

 growth. Do not prune in winter except to cut out dead wood and interfering 

 branches, and to thin out where brush is too thick. Top back the new 

 growth (not heavily) all summer, preferably in August. The stoppage of 

 sap flow will force side buds to become fruit buds and spurs. When enough 

 spurs have been started by a few years' summer pruning, leave the trees 

 alone except to thin them out and keep them open to the sun for vigorous 

 fruiting and high coloring inside the tree. In cutting back in summer, leave 

 a branch or a promising bud just below the cut. 



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 commended. 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, induced 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. 

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

 and therefore requires continuous moisture to secure size and qua- 

 lity. Most California apples are grown on deep, retentive soils in 

 regions of large rainfall and if this is conserved by thorough culti- 

 vation, good fruit can be secured, though irrigation to increase size 

 of fruit is often desirable. It is doubtless true that apples in coast 

 valleys would sometimes be improved by irrigation just as they are 

 in interior and mountain districts where adequate irrigation is es- 

 sential. 



Fertilizers have been thus far but little used in California apple 

 orchards, but they are manifestly needed. 



