Thinning the Apple 247 



grower to determine the proper method to follow under each in- 

 dividual case. Certain thinning experiments have been carried on 

 by the Ohio Experiment Station, in which case the fruit was left 

 the minimum distance of 8 inches. This seemed to give the best 

 results under the conditions. It is often suggested that pruning 

 may be substituted for thinning. To be sure, pruning thins out the 

 fruit-buds very materially, but it can hardly take the place of 

 thinning. Some relief must be had for the crowded cluster on the 

 individual branches, and again, such severe pruning as would prop- 

 erly reduce the crop on a bearing apple tree would likely be too 

 severe pruning otherwise. 



For the best results, the thinning operation should commence 

 immediately after the June drop. The work should be done while 

 the apples are 1 to 13^ inches in diameter. It is only natural to 

 expect that the sooner the remaining apples are accorded the entire 

 strength and nourishment of the tree, the better the results. Broken 

 'limbs may be averted if the thinning is done in August, but the other 

 benefits will not be so pronounced as though the work had been 

 done at an early stage in the fruit's development. In other words, 

 less of the tree's energy will be thrown away and more diverted to 

 the proper channels if the thinning is done early in the season. 



Concerning tools for this work, some varieties like the Gano and 

 Ben Davis are easily thinned by hand, while varieties with short 

 fruit-spurs are not so readily handled this way, and the work may 

 be hastened by the use of a small shear made especially for this 

 purpose. In any case, care should be used not to break or injure 

 the fruit-spurs in the operation. Very few fruit-spurs will be broken 

 by the careful worker if the spur is grasped firmly in one hand while 

 the apples are removed with the other. An upward and backward 

 twist of fruit will loosen the stem from the spur without disturbing 

 the remaining fruit or breaking the spur. One or two apples are 

 often removed from a cluster in this way, leaving the remaining 

 apple undisturbed. Careless workers who persist in pulling oft the 

 fruit should not be tolerated, as this practice loosens much of the 

 remaining fruit and breaks off many spurs. A light picking ladder 

 will hasten the work with the older trees, and the entire bearing 

 surface may be easily reached. 



The cost of this work is only slight, compared with the increased 

 returns. The actual time in thinning will be saved at harvest time 

 in sorting the crop. If, however, full time is charged to this thinning 



