Thinning of the Winesap. 7 
to such an extent that it will not only be able to properly sup¬ 
port a load of mature fruit, but will also be able to grow it to 
proper size and color. Because one side of a tree is light and the 
other side heavy with fruit is no reason why the heavy side should 
not be thinned. The physiology of a tree is such that the food sup¬ 
ply for one side or part of it, is largely independent of the other 
parts. For example, one side or part of a tree may be dead because 
of the death of the roots which fed that part of the tree. This is 
perhaps more often true of old trees than of young ones. 
It may be seen from the table that the apples of tree No. t 
were thinned to about 10 inches, except in the top, and it-was due 
to this fact that the small apples were found in that portion of the 
tree. Because it was hard to tell exactly the distance that the fruit 
was thinned on each tree, the distances given are more or less es¬ 
timated. 
A study of the individual tree is necessary in order that one 
may be able to thin it in such a manner as to get the best results. 
Trees of the same variety and age, may vary in their productive¬ 
ness in the same orchard, and for this reason it is a good plan to 
studv each tree for several seasons to be able to ascertain its wants 
w* 
and requirements. In averaging the total number of apples borne 
by each tree, it will be seen that this average is about the same for 
the thinned as for the checks or unthinned trees. These average 
totals are 5.021 apples for the trees that were thinned, and 5,152 
apples for the checks or unthinned trees. These averages per tree 
include all of the apples that were set at thinning time. 
The average per tree for the number of apples at picking time, 
including all windfalls, was for the thinned 2,622, and for the un¬ 
thinned or checks 5,152 apples. From these figures it may be seen 
that about one-half of the apples were removed from thinned trees. 
The average estimated distance apart of all apples on thinned trees 
was 834 inches. In examining the apples at picking time, it was 
found that as a rule, better apples, in regard to size and color, 
were found on limbs where they had been thinned to about 10 
inches. It is believed that the very best results from thinning old, 
heavy bearing Winesap trees, would be obtained by thinning the 
apples uniformly to a distance of from 9 to 10 inches as soon as 
possible after the “June drop.” 
Cost of Thinning .—I11 this experiment an average of about 
750 apples per hour were thinned from the trees. This would make 
7,500 apples for a day of ten hours. Counting 2,400 apples to be 
thinned from a tree, one man would thin 3^8 trees per day. The 
cost of thinning a tree, allowing two dollars a day for a man’s 
wages, would be 64 cents. An expert thinner who could take off 
1,000 apples an hour would cut this cost down to 48 cents per tree. 
