16 HOME FRUIT GROWER 



because of frost at blossoming time ! If a commercial grower can do 

 this with such a notorious biennial cropper as the Raldwin, why can- 

 not an amateur ? 



Thinning the fruit is indicated wherever the amount that sets 

 after flowering is greater than the tree can carry to perfection. It 

 will also save much breakage of branches of trees whose wood is brittle 

 and, when loaded, easily broken by the wind. 



Acid varieties are almost invariably better culinary fruits than 

 sweet, mild or "sub-acid" ones. This is because the process of cook- 

 ing destroys some of the acid, as well as drives more or less of the 

 volatile oils off into the air. Cooking slowly at lowest possible tem- 

 peratures and in covered vessels with little or no water added will 

 retain a larger part of these flavors and acids than will reverse methods. 

 Ry cooking skins and all except the resident entomology a still larger 

 part may be retained. The skins may be eliminated by using a 

 colander. 



Many varieties are said to be short-lived. This is a relative 

 term. "Short-lived" Apple trees may bear good crops for 25 to 40 

 years; long-lived ones 75 to 100 years or even more. Peaches are 

 considered almost unbelievably old at 25 or 30 years because the usual 

 commercial age is a third of this. 



Some varieties of tree fruits are noted for beginning to bear 

 while very young, even the second or third year from planting the 

 trees. Such being the case it is a very good plan to include several 

 of these precocious varieties in the family orchard, so as to encourage 

 oneself by the sight and the taste of home-grown fruits. They will 

 thus offset the patience that often must be stretched almost to the 

 breaking point by varieties that are slow to reach bearing age but which 

 because of their sterling worth should always be included in every 

 amateur orchard large enough to allow them to be included. He was 

 a wise man who when planting his orchard designated a certain tree for 

 each of his children. The two oldest children seven and five years 

 respectively were given the quickest maturing varieties, the other 

 two three and one not being able to understand, were given slower 

 growing ones. 



Some varieties, especially of Winter Apples, seem to ripen their 

 fruit almost all at once, others during several (Primate often from 

 five to eight) weeks. Ry -gathering the mature specimens in two, 

 three or more pickings those left on the tree will improve in size, color 

 and quality. If commercial growers find two or three pickings profit- 

 able, the home grower should find it still more advantageous. 



Since the season of ripening varies widely with locality Northern 

 Winter Apples such as Northern Spy being Fall Apples in the South 



