390 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



CHAPTER XV. 



THINNING, PICKING AND PACKING. 



THINNING. 



The necessity for thinning pears of the Bartlett variety is usually not 

 great because of the fact that several pickings are ordinarily made, and 

 pears that are too small at the time of the first picking will attain a 

 good ma-rketable size by the time of some later picking. The first 

 picking of Bartletts may be considered as a thinning process. At this 

 time fruit that has attained 2 J to 2J inches is removed. The removal 

 of this fruit relieves the frequently overcrowded condition of the trees 

 and enables the remaining fruit to make a satisfactory growth. 



Other varieties may require early thinning for the best results. This 

 is especially true of later maturing sorts and of such small varieties as 

 Winter Nelis. This variety has a tendency to overbear at the expense 

 of size, and heavy thinning may be necessary in order that the pears 

 may be as large as the market demands. In general, pears require less 

 thinning than apples and peaches, but under certain conditions with 

 certain varieties the practice may be followed to advantage, and the 

 individual grower must determine whether or not it will be profitable 

 for him to thin his crop. 



In the case of very young trees bearing their first crop thinning to 

 remove an overload will pay. The tendency to allow trees to bear all 

 that they can possibly hold when very young will usually result in the 

 sacrifice of growth and vitality. Therefore, while a reasonably heav3 r 

 crop will not hurt thrifty trees when they first come into bearing, care 

 must be exercised that they do not overload, with danger of permanent 

 stunting and consequent detriment to future productivity and growth. 



PICKING. 



The picking of pears to be packed either for transportation locally 

 or to other states should be very carefully done in order to prevent 

 bruising and subsequent decay. When ready to pick the fruit can be 

 removed easily from the trees by grasping with the hand and quickly 

 lifting upward. If not ready the stems are apt to break instead of 

 separating freely from the fruit spurs. Seldom are the larger varieties, 

 e. g., Bartlett, Cornice, Anjou, Howell and Bosc, picked before they 

 attain a size of 2J inches or more. In fact, most growers aim to pack 

 nothing that does not measure at least 2| inches through the widest 

 part of the shorter axis. As it is rather difficult, for inexperienced 

 pickers at least, to gauge the sizes properly, especially early in the 

 season when picking begins, a piece of heavy wire curved into a ring 

 at both ends is used. One ring measures 2^ inches and the other 2^ 

 inches. The picker carries this device and by placing either one or the 

 other end against the fruit can determine very accurately the proper 

 size to pick. If he is instructed to pick 2J-inch pears and over, every- 

 thing that will pass through the 2J-inch ring is left on the trees and the 

 fruit that will not pass through is picked. In case he has instructions 



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