THINKING. 267 



time that it satisfies our demands for fruit, but also mean- 

 while tending to the destruction of the tree, for all old 

 trees are apt to overbear. Young trees, on the contrary, 

 in which the vigor of wood-growth remains in full activ- 

 ity, very often produce fruit-buds and blossoms, but do 

 not perfect their fruit, which either fails to set, from some 

 imperfection of the organs of reproduction, or falls pre- 

 maturely, in consequence of the wood system absorbing 

 the nutriment, or failing to prepare the proper juices for 

 their support. Trees, in these different conditions, require 

 an entirely opposite treatment. The younger need sum- 

 mer pruning and pinching, to check their too great vigor, 

 and to develop the laterals or spurs with their blossom 

 buds; the older need winter pruning, for the double pur- 

 pose of reducing the amount of fruit, and also to excite 

 renewed vigor in the production of wood growth that 

 shall take the place of that which has been removed. 

 This subject will be more appropriately discussed in an- 

 other chapter, to which the reader is referred ; while we 

 proceed to the legitimate topic of thinning fruit. 



Thinning fruit is not practiced as it should be, particu- 

 larly on the apple; old trees are often too fruitful, so 

 much so as not only to deteriorate the fruit, but to injure 

 the tree itself. This is so much the case with certain va- 

 rieties, as to constitute a serious objection to planting them ; 

 other sorts so exhaust themselves by over-production in 

 one season, as to be barren, or nearly so, the next year, 

 during which period of rest they are able to recuperate 

 their energies and to provide a new set of flower-buds. 

 These are called biennial bearers, and such are quite nu- 

 merous in our orchards. Those kinds that are prone to 



