1796 



THINNING FRUIT 



Very often the mistake is made of deferring it too 

 long. The labor spent in late thinning is tisually 

 wasted so far as improving the grade of fruit is con- 

 cerned. Although the yield is thus lessened, the ripe- 

 fruit generally averages but little if any larger tlnm 

 unthlnned fruit. 



No definite rule can be given as to the amount of 

 fruit to be loft in thinning. This should be determined 

 according to the environment, vigor and productive 

 habits of tho plant. Oenerallv speaking, fruits should 



THINNING FKUIT 



Fig. 2497 shows the improvement in size attained b; 

 thinning the Hurbank. Those plums which at tliei 

 bi-st pniduc-c viTy large fruit, such as Wickson, Dia 

 niond and Guii. usually give better returns for thinning 

 Willi III! kiiiilH (if fruit, thinning may be expected t 

 return nlo^<t |ircilit wlicii practiced on varieties wcl 

 adapted for fancy trade. 



An exceedingly heavy crop of fruit iu:i\ .. . \\,:.i, i 

 tree that it either fails to fruit tin- n 

 duces less than an average crop. ^ i 



more oflon sprn \\ ii li i i 



the diameter of tlie largest fruits at maturitv. Under 

 irrigalion, or wb.T.' ., constsnt pIctifMl -n,.plv of „oil 

 moist\irc c:!!! Im- .Ic|..ii.Ic.I ..ci, iIm t.uinl.cr .,( fruits 

 which ih. I'l.Hii m;u li. „ll.«..i I,, i„ ,. , : ,. ;, LHter 



plant .■oul.l I. no- lo lin-L-r si/,.- il n >> ■ i . \..:,u-,\ on 

 drier soil. I''ig. 21il7 sliows tlic stiigc of development 

 of poaches for early thinning and indicates the per- 

 centage removed and distance apart of those which are 



left. 



full 



Thinning I'ruii li 



horticultuiiii i ih 



markets and mm ;ii 

 Thinning assisis th. 

 chief among wliicli 

 ing tho vigor of il 

 maximum size, api" 

 annual crops instc.-o 

 the spread of pars si 



•s of fruit. Only 

 reward the culti- 



thinning, though 



fruit on illlllKilin- l-l.i-il . llir i,:,l,ir-;,l ahiliU ol Ih,' 



plant and llic iiiilii. h. . .'I . u 1 1 -nm. m •.li.niM li.- .■\rn 

 more carcl'nlh r.m ihud iinn v. iih iii.,iur. |.ImiiIs. 



This work rc,|.iirr-. ^k.ll ;,n.l : I in.lL- Ill, wliirli ,■„!. 



only bo acquired by experiiiice, study and careful 

 observation. 



The question of what kinds of fruit it Is best to thin 

 should be considered briefly from the standpoint of the 

 commercial grower. If the miirkel>^i wliidi -re :i.-i-,u 

 sible do not p«y more for the Ihii. >■ im.l.' -i (mil 



the breaking down ol' llie Ire,. I.> Ii.:..n .i..|. i.n.l 



ing. 'I'l '"r "I llilli". .1 llinl .ii:.> ..in. N.'. . 'I 



the ni. ■11-111-. ■ Ili.il llie unlhiiiii. .1 liiiil v> .1 11. I.I, I. Ill 



K and 8 inches apart and Hnd that 

 with high culture the results are 

 Whether it will pay to thin plums 

 upon the variety and tlie market. 



Where f;iii..v |.ri.-. - .n. ..I. I: .1 H" i :ir.' l....iii;li> <■'. 



evenly gracli'd pii. I ,1 Ml.. I.i'.i ] \ in i 



ties which at ih.n i.. i n :.ll ..1 liiiiii - 1 . .1" 



not usually psy r.o- l Iniuiiii:;. II .1...- PH. I |.:n . |..r in 



stance, to try to increase the size ol liinnson plums hy 

 thinning them. Plums like Lombard or Burbank. which 

 have medium to large fruit, may pay for thinning. 



are thinneii by special methods 

 growing in hills and narrow matti 

 which the operation is performed 



