- 7 - 



and the permanent trees of the Siime treatment, 



"The interpretation of yield data from this orchard was made more diffi- 

 cult by a late spring frost in 1956. This frost not only completely destroyed 

 the crop for that year, but also resulted in a strong tendency toward alternate 

 bearing. However, in spite of this complicating factor, two points are now well 

 established: 



"1, There has been no difference between the two fan pruning treatments in 

 yield for any one year or in total yield for the five year period, 



"2. Both fan pruning treatments have been far superior to removal of 

 alternate trees. The fan prvoned treatments have produced 1000 boxes of apples 

 per acre more than the removal treatment in five years . 



"At the time this experiment was started, it was assumed that Che difference 

 in yield between the fan pruned treatments and the removal treatment woiild be 

 less each succeeding year because the removal trees were expected to make better 

 growth than the trees in the fan pruned treatments. However, no such tt^ndency 

 is evident as yet. In 1955 the removal treatment produced two- thirds as; much 

 fruit as the fan pruned treatments and that relationship has been maintained 

 through the 1959 crop, 



"No filler trees have, as yet, been removed from the alternate fan pruning 

 treatment and it is doubtful if any will be removed within the next thrE^e or 

 four years. In spite of the fact that the permanent trees have made excellent 

 growth it will apparently be possible to maintain considerable bearing surface 

 on most filler trees for some time without interfering with the permanent trees. 



"The experience of the past five years in this orchard indicates that it is 

 both desirable and practical to grow Mcintosh in a hedgerow system. However, 

 if such a system is to be established, the following points should receive care- 

 ful attention: 



"1, Fan pruning should be started before the trees grow together and 

 crowding becomes a serious problem. When crowded trees are fan pruned, a great 

 deal of weak, shaded-out wood is exposed and, in spite of greater exposure to 

 sunlight, this wood is unproductive and will remain unproductive for several 

 years . 



"2. Although this is called the hedgerow system, the branches of adjacent 

 trees should not be permitted to overlap. If they are allowed to do so, weak, 

 shaded wood will develop and such wood produces little fruit and fruit of low 

 quality. When the trees are dormant, the lower branches of adjacent trees 

 should be separated by three feet. The distance between higher branches should 

 be even greater. 



"3. The upper branches should be considerably shorter than the lower 

 branches. If not, the lower branches will be shaded out and a large part of 

 the potential bearing surface will became relatively unproductive." 



—William J. Lord 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



