density management systems, I established a trial of 

 four training systems at the University of Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Research Center 

 (Belchertown) in the spring of 1990. This trial 

 included Nicobel Jonagold/M.9 trained as a New 

 England central leader, as a slender spindle, as a 

 vertical axis, and on a four-wire vertical trellis. 

 Previously, I published an article which included the 

 various costs of establishment (Autio, 1990). Here, 

 I have continued the discussion of this study, includ- 

 ing the costs of managing these trees during the first 

 three growing seasons and the returns obtained 

 from the fruit. 



The Systems 



New England Central Leader. The NE central 

 leader, simply, is a small central-leader tree (389 

 trees per acre, 8' x 14'). Minimal pruning has been 

 conducted, including removal only of those branches 

 which inhibited the developmentof thecentral leader. 



Some limb spreading has been done with weights. 



Slender Spindle. The slender spindle is typical 

 of a European slender spindle, i.e. a small central- 

 leader tree with a relatively large amount of branch 

 manipulation. Trees are spaced 6' x 14' (519 trees per 

 acre). The new growth of the central leader was 

 headed by half in the first dormant season to encour- 

 age lateral development. The central shoot originat- 

 ing from the heading cut was tied to the post in June 

 of the second season, and competing laterals were 

 bent to 90° from vertical with rubber bands. In early 

 July of both the second and third growing seasons, 

 lower laterals were tied to approximately 70°, cen- 

 tral laterals were tied to approximately 90°, and 

 upper laterals were tied to 100°. In some cases in 

 1992, branches which bore fruit in 1991 were tied up 

 to prevent devigoration. 



In 1991, a self-tapping sheet-metal screw was 

 drilled into the bottom of the conduit-pipe post, and 

 cotton kite twine was tied from this screw to limbs for 

 positioning. This process was relatively time con- 



Fruit Notes, Summer, 1993 



