THINNING FRUIT 



97 



when a tree is in a weakly state, less fruit must 

 be kept upon it. And if in too vigorous 

 a state, more, so that it must be regulated 

 in each, according to the health of the tree. 



Fruit to be properly thinned, require 

 that it should be done at two different 

 times. If a tree has not a great deal more 

 fruit than it is proper for it to bear, let half the 

 quantity required to be taken off be removed 

 the first thinning, which should be when 

 the fruit is about the size of a large marrow 

 pea, and the remainder must not be taken 

 away until the fruit is stoned. The necessity 

 of attending to those directions is, that at 

 the time when the fruit is stoning many 

 generally drop off, more or less in quantity 

 according to the treatment of the trees; 

 ( See watering the roots of fruit trees ) but by 

 reserving and using proper caution in the 

 first thinning, there will remain more than 

 is wanted after the stoning is over, and such 

 can be taken away agreeably to directions. 

 The necessity also of taking a portion off at 

 an early stage of their growth as already 

 described is, that if all were left till after the 

 stoning, the great abundance would cause a 

 greater quantity to drop off in proportion ; 

 because fruit will fall off the tree at the time 

 of stoning, for want of nourishment as well 

 as by too great a portion of it. And the 

 greater quantity of fruit to support, the less 

 is the portion of food each receives, and the 



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