STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 35 



the pear was all right and the fault was with me. After trim- 

 ming the other trees well it had the same result 



Thinning of fruit. I believe the thinning of fruit is a question 

 we should look into more than we do. Nature perpetuates all 

 fruit by the production of its seeds. It brings just as heavy 

 strain upon the tree to grow and mature the seeds in a small and 

 wormy apple as it does in a good one. I believe by thinning our 

 fruit we will get a better sized, better colored and a better flavored 

 apple. I much prefer one good apple than two poor ones. It 

 can be done at any time after the fruit is well set, the sooner the 

 better. When a tree is allowed to bear so heavily that it takes 

 all of the nourishment from the tree and the tree gets no growth, 

 disease is after that tree, and it takes from one to two years for 

 that tree to get into bearing again. I believe if a tree is properly 

 dressed, pruned and thinned, it will produce fruit every year. 

 The question is often asked when to prune trees. I believe the 

 best time is when you set them out and then do a little every 

 3'ear. How often we hear that father or mother say, give me the 

 training of a child until it is twelve years old and I will character- 

 ize his whole life. It is the same with a fruit tree. You can 

 form that tree into any shape you choose. Many are asking 

 what time of the year is the best to prune trees. I make it a 

 rule to prune when I have the time; any time after the leaves 

 fall. 



I believe the future prospects are good for fruit growers. 

 Many and many a farmer in Oxford county, this present year, 

 have received as much for their fruit as their farm would be 

 v\^orth outside of their orchard. 



Q. At what time and how do you thin fruit ? It is not much 

 practiced here. 



A. At any time after June, after it gets well started. Did 

 you ever notice. Brother, that an apple that is perfectly clear, 

 not touching anything, that you don't see any coddling worms 

 working on the limb. They always w'ork where limbs come 

 together or leaves touch. I thin any time after June ; rainy days 

 in haying is a good time. This year the hot weather in June 

 thinned the fruit quite badly for me. although I raised quite a 

 good average crop. 



