ringing and scoring, but ripening was advanced 

 by approximately one week (Table 1). Drop was 

 also advanced by approximately one week (Fig- 

 ure 1). 



Clearly, these treatments successfully re- 

 duced growth of the trees in this study. Care 

 must be taken, however, to select appropriate 

 trees for these whole-tree treatments. Ringing 

 or scoring of a weak tree may overly devigorate 

 the tree, an effect which may last for several 

 years. Although ringing and scoring acted simi- 

 larly in this experiment, ringing often is much 

 more dramatic in its response. Ringing should 

 be done only in situations when you need a 

 dramatic reduction in growth. 



An additional caution regarding ringing and 



scoring is their effect on ripening. Advanced 

 ripening resulted in advanced drop. Ripening 

 and drop must be monitored in trees that have 

 been scored or ringed to avoid excessive losses in 

 quality or to the ground. 



Top Scoring, 1991 



Because of the need to control tree height in 

 almost all cases, significant pruning is often 

 used in the top of the tree. This procedure can 

 cause the tree to grow out of balance, with the 

 top being vigorous and the lower scaffolds hav- 

 ing low vigor. Figure 2 shows this situation in a 

 mature Mclntosh/M.9 tree. 



As a potential means of controlling top vigor 



Figure 2. Mclntosh/M.9 tree showing undesirable growth in the top of 

 the tree as the result excessive pruning at the top. 



Fruit Notes, Summer, 1992 



