BOOK I. THINNING. 489 



SECT. IV. Thinning. 



2567. The thinning of seedling crops, Marshall observes, " should be done in time, be- 

 fore the young plants have drawn one another up too much. All plants grow stronger, 

 and ripen their juices better, when the air circulates freely round them, and the sun is not 

 prevented from an immediate influence ; an attention to which should be paid from the 

 first appearance of plants breaking ground. In thinning close crops, as onions, carrots, 

 turnips, &c. be sure that they are not left too near, for instead of reaping a greater produce, 

 there would be a less. When they stand too close, they will make tall and large tops, 

 but are prevented swelling in their roots : better to err on the wide side, for though there 

 are fewer plants, they will be finer and better flavored." 



2568. Thinning the leaves of fruit-trees. " The leaves," Abercrombie observes, " have 

 too essential an office as organs of growth to the entire plant, to be lightly parted with ; 

 and where the climate is not deficient in heat, compared with the habitat of the plant, or 

 the portion of the year in which its season for vegetating falls, their shade is more likely 

 to be serviceable than detrimental, even in the last stage of fruiting. Thus, cherries, rasp- 

 berries, strawberries, currants, and other species whose full term of fructification is more 

 than comprehended in our summer, reach perfect maturity, and acquire the color proper 

 to each, though ever so much covered with leaves : whereas for those kinds which ripen 

 with difficulty here, because the direct rays, and most intense reflection of the sun, is 

 scarcely equal to the heat in the shade during the full summer of their native climate, 

 it is proper, when the fruit has nearly attained its full size, and is naturally losing its ab- 

 solute greenness, to remove some of the leaves which shade it too much. Were the leaves 

 thinned sooner, it would prejudice the growth of the fruit ; and should they even now be 

 swept off unsparingly, the growth of the year's shoots might be arrested. The leaves 

 which cover the fruit, whether peaches, grapes, late pears, or other exotics, must be re- 

 moved gradually ; that is, at two or three times in the course of five or six days ; other- 

 wise the unusual full heat of the sun darting upon the fruit, would occasion the rind to 

 crack." 



2569. Nicol says, " My practice has been, as the fruit begin to color, to pick off every leaf that may over- 

 hang them ; thus very much enhancing their beauty and flavor. In late seasons, if the leaves of wall- 

 trees hang longer than usual, they may be brushed off, in order to let in the sun and air the better to ripen 

 the wood. This brushing, however, should be cautiously performed, never brushing much at a time. The 

 leaves should not be forced off violently. Some use a common stable -broom for this purpose ; but a better 

 instrument is a hazel, or strong willow withe, or a small smooth cane. The shoots from which the leaves 

 are to be displaced, should be gently stroked upwards, and outward ; but never the reverse way, else there 

 is danger of hurting the buds. Trees exposed to the wind seldom require this care ; but sometimes espa- 

 liers may, and if so, the same course is to be pursued as above." 



2570. Thinning stone-fruits. Thinning the over-abundantly set fruit on apricot, nec- 

 tarine, peach, and plum trees, is a necessary duty; as many of these, in good seasons, 

 set more than they can nourish or bring near to perfection. This thinning, however, must 

 be cautiously performed, and by degrees. If the trees have set their fruit very thick in 

 particular parts only, such parts should be moderately thinned out now, and the other 

 parts not yet. But if the fruit be very quickly set all over the tree, let it be generally 

 thinned oft" to half its extent at this time ; deferring the final thinning till the stoning be 

 over; that is, till the shells be quite hard, and the kernel be formed. For most trees, 

 especially those anywise unhealthy, drop many of their fruit in the time of stoning ; so 

 that the thinning had better be performed at two or three different times ; always observ- 

 ing to reserve the fullest, brownest, and best-formed fruit. Stone-fruits must be again 

 looked over in June, and a few more fruit thinned off where too thick ; and the final 

 thinning must take place in July, when the stoning of stone-fruits is over, and previously 

 to their beginning to swell off for ripening. (Nicol.} 



2571. With respect to the quantity or number of fruit proper to be left on a'tree, " much," according to 

 Nicol, " must depend on its size and strength, and whether it be full grown, or be yet in training. A full- 

 grown tree, in a healthy state, may be allowed to produce considerably more than one in a weak condition. 

 And if a tree yet in training, that is, one not having filled the space allotted to it, be allowed to ripen all 

 the fruit it may set, its extension will be much retarded in consequence. On the More-park apricot, and 

 the larger kinds of peaches, in a healthy full-bearing state, a fruit to every foot square of the superficial 

 content, or surface of the tree, may be taken as a good medium ; that is to say, a tree covering a space fif- 

 teen feet by twelve, may be allowed to ripen about two hundred fruit. The smaller kinds of apricots and 

 peaches, and of nectarines in general, may be allowed to produce a third part more, if in a healthy state. 

 The larger and better sorts of plums may be thinned in proportion, and according to their sizes ; and may 

 be thinned out to from three to six inches apart, if on the shoots of last year, or so as to hang quite free of 

 one another, if on spurs. I am aware, that many will think thinning to this extent an extraordinary mea- 

 sure ; but I would have such be convinced of the propriety of doing so, by comparison. If they have two 

 trees of a kind, both healthy and well loaded, let the one be thinned as above, and allow the other to pro- 

 duce as it has been wont ; or thin it even to half the extent. It will be found, that the tree fully thinned 

 will produce an equal, if not a greater weight of fruit, and these incomparably more beautiful, and higher 

 in flavor. Observe, the comparison must be made the same season, dse it would not be fair ; as the size 

 and flavor of the fruit might be very different, according to the goodness or badness of the weather in dif- 

 ferent years." 



2572. Apples and pears should be moderately thinned, and good account would be found 

 in the practice. This should be done when the fruit is about half grown, or when all ap- 



