The RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
371 
Thinning for Profit: an Essential to 
Quality Fruit Production 
Three important factors in quality- 
fruit production are pruning, spraying 
and thinning. Every successful orchard- 
ist emphasizes the necessity of the first 
two operations, but the third is often 
neglected. The best market is for large, 
high-grade fruit, and it is from this fruit 
that the grower receives the largest profit. 
Judicious thinning, in properly pruned 
and sprayed orchards, increases both size 
and quality of the remaining specimens. 
Another result obtained is uniformity in 
size. Aside from the effect of thinning 
upon the fruit itself, the tree is also bene¬ 
fited. A great many varieties set too 
heavily. In the apple, this may result in 
alternation of bearing; that is, the spur 
grows a fruit one year, and a shoot the 
next, upon which in the third year an¬ 
other fruit may be borne. By removing 
the surplus set. some spurs will bear each 
year, thus distributing the crop, instead 
of causing the production to come heavily 
every other year. Another benefit results 
from the lessened number of broken 
branches, in both apple and peach, due to 
au extra heavy set of fruit. 
The time to thin is shortly after the 
tree has dropped its imperfect fruit: in 
f nthinned Fruit Cluster and a Specimen 
Grown After Thinning 
June for the peach, and a few days or 
weeks later for the apple. Trees should 
be thinned in the order of their bearing, 
early ones first. The work can be done by 
cheap labor, or by boys and girls, as the 
work is light and requires quick and deft 
fingers. The essential point is to remove 
the surplus fruit as quickly as possible, 
without disturbing the remaining fruit 
or injuring fruit spurs and branches. The 
thinner should grasp the spur or twig 
with one hand and remove the extra fruit 
with a quick twist. In thinning short¬ 
stemmed varieties of apples, a pair of 
thiu-bladed shears is a great convenience. 
Peaches should be thinned to a distance 
of four to six inches between fruits; ap¬ 
ples, to a distance of six or eight, for 
large-sized specimens. Apple (or pear) 
clusters should be reduced to one fruit, 
which is true of other varieties as well. 
In arriving at the cost of thinning, 
two factors must be considered. First, 
the fruit must be picked either then or 
at harvest time. It is much easier and 
quicker to pick an immature fruit and 
let it fall to the ground than to pick a 
small ripe fruit and put it into the pick¬ 
ing basket. At harvest time the fruit on 
the trees, while equal m bulk, as a rule, 
to what the crop would have been if uu- 
thinned. is much less in number. Conse¬ 
quently the crop can be picket! more 
cheaply, as there are less specimens to 
handle. A second consideration is the 
fact that thinned fruit is more even in 
size than unthiuued, and accordingly is 
easier to grade. 
The illustration shows the results of 
thinning. The large apple grew in such 
a cluster as the one above it. but at thin¬ 
ning time the other fruits were removed. 
The knotty little apples cost the tree 
much more effort to produce, but are 
worth only a few cents a bushel as cider 
apples. Fruit like the large apple is 
worth two dollars or more a bushel. 
Which do you prefer 'i 
U. I.. Sll ABRIXG-H AUSEX. 
4 men, 8 horses, 4 
This one day in the life of an Atlas truck is typical 
of its possibilities on any average farm. The story 
above is the actual experience of an apple grower 
in central Pennsylvania, who formerly sold most of 
his product to a cider mill for what it would bring. 
(Name on application.) 
Aon can get top prices for fresh farm products bv 
extending your range of operations. An Atlas truck 
Puts you in touch with any profitable market within 
50 miles of your farm. 
There is 40% surplus power for the bad spots in the 
wagons—SAVED” 
road in the Atlas 35 II. P. “truck” motor (3(4x5"; 
192.4 cubic inch piston displacement). 
There Is 40% extra carrying capacity in the Atlas 
rear axle. 
There is 40% greater strength and flexibility in the 
Atlas truck-design, steel channel frame. 
There are many unduplicated features of strength, 
power, flexibility and freedom from repairs in the 
00 points of superior merit built into the Atlas 
truck, including 2-ton truck type transmission, nickel 
steel gears, armorclad radiator and truck cooling 
system. 
Write for Road Map to Your Nearest 
Markets. Sent Free for the asking. 
% TON TRUCK., 
Martin 
Truck & 
Body 
Corporation 
YORK, PENN’A 
BUILDERS OF FARM VEHICLES FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS 
“Two trips a day— 
home for lunch, 
two loads marketed 
at city prices 
=HIGH GRADE= 
FERTILIZERS 
Croxton Brands and Raw Materials 
Cau furnish mixtures with any amount of Potash at 
reduced prices. 
N. J. FERTILIZER & CHEMICAL CO- 
60 Trinity Place, New York 
Starter For 
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SIMPLEX MFC. CO. Box600 Anderson, Indiana 
McQUAY-NORRIS 
Sxifiereyl 
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A special ring for 
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oil. 
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Install a full set of 
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Increase Power—Decrease Carbon 
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Manufactured by 
McQuay-Norris Manufacturing; Co. 
2SiS Locust St. st. Louis. U. S. A. 
AINT 
$1.35 
PER 
Gallon 
ORDER DIRECT FROM FACTORY 
W e will send you as many gallons as you 
want of good quality red or brown 
BARN PAINT 
upon receipt of remittance. We are paint special¬ 
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Factory: 372 WAYNE ST., JERSEY CITY. N. J. 
HUBBARDS 
FERTILIZERS 
I are quick-acting, powerful, lasting, 
1 hese qualities have insured 
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vestigate — now — by sending 
FREE BOOK that tells of 
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360-Acre Farm 
In Buckingham Co.,Va. 
7 Miles Scottsville, 
4y 2 Miles C. & O R. R. 
This Farm is not in pink of con¬ 
dition but just the thing to im¬ 
prove with Apple Orchards and 
Hogs; buildings fair. Price S6.500; 
$500 cash, bal. $500 year. 
HARRY VAIL,New Miltord,OrangeCo.,N.Y 
