230 



PICKING AND HANDLING FRUIT 



and the production of the seed in the fruit is much more ex- 

 hausting than any other part of the fruit. So that, while a 

 thinned tree may produce nearly as many bushels of fruit as 

 one that is not thinned, the number of fruits is so much less on 

 the thinned tree that it is left in far better condition. 



2. It prevents the breaking of branches due to overloading 

 (Fig. 110). This is a very important matter on trees that are 

 bearing a full crop. It is not advisable to thin a tree so much 



FIG. 108. Boys thinning Japanese plums. 



that no props at all are required to help the tree to carry its 

 load, but there is no question that with proper thinning the 

 number of props may be greatly reduced and still leave the 

 tree reasonably free from danger of breaking. 



3. It enables us to get rid of fruit infested by insects and 

 fungous diseases. This is especially true of the codling moth 

 and the railroad worm, but applies to a number of other pests. 

 This not only relieves the tree from the drain of maturing these 

 fruits, but it helps to hold the pests in check and, perhaps most 



