THINNING OF THE WINESAP 
By R. S. HERRICK 
The Winesap apple, as a rule, does not attain sufficient size 
to meet the requirements for packing in the higher grades. This 
is especially true of heavily loaded old trees. It is not a “shy” 
bearer, but has a tendency to bear a heavy crop every year. 
At a meeting of the representatives of the leading fruit grow¬ 
ers’ associations of the State, held at Grand Junction in February, 
1910, rules were made and adopted for the grading of apples, which 
were as follows: “That the grade names be designated as ‘Extra 
Fancy,’ ‘Extra Choice,' and ‘Standard.’ That the Extra Fancy 
grade is to include perfect apples, free from all blemishes, not less 
than 2 i /2 inches in diameter for all varieties and of normal color, 
and layered throughout the box. That the Extra Choice is to in¬ 
clude apples of not less than inches in diameter and containing 
no worm holes and layered throughout the box. That the Stand¬ 
ard grade be left to the discretion of the respective shippers.” The 
Standard grade as packed by one of the leading fruit growers’ as¬ 
sociations of the State is as follows: “Pack in this grade all ap¬ 
ples lacking in color or shape and pack nothing less than inches 
in any variety. One small worm hole in side or end is allowed, but 
no more. If a worm hole is surrounded by a large discoloration, 
cull the apple. Leaf-rubbed or limb-scarred fruit, or fruit having- 
two or three worm-stings is admissible.” 
It will be seen from the above rules that great care must be 
taken in the handling of the standard varieties of our apples, and 
in tending the orchard, to maintain a high grade of fruit. Among 
other things, careful attention must be given to the pruning, thin¬ 
ning, spraying, fertilizing, cultivating and irrigating. All of these 
are important factors in the management of an orchard; and, par¬ 
ticularly with the Winesap, thinning should rank high among the 
requirements for best results. While every orchardist wishes to 
get the best possible yield for the season, at the same time it is 
better to have an average yield every season than a heavy crop one 
season and nothing the next. It is not claimed that thinning alone 
will attain this end, but there is no doubt that it will play an im¬ 
portant part in doing so. If a tree will show a marked gain in 
value received • from only one year’s thinning, then it is important 
that the operation be continued. 
In this bulletin the thinning of the Winesap will be discussed 
more fully than that of any other variety. A block of Winesaps 
and Jonathans was secured for a thinning experiment, in Mr. A. L. 
Robert’s orchard at Paonia, Colorado. The Winesaps were about 
thirteen years old, set in rows running north and south, with the 
