years old, a light, well proportioned 
fruit ladder is generally used, and for 
younger trees a rigid step ladder. 
When necessary to climb into the 
trees, rubber soled shoes should be 
worn. By working systematically 
down and around a tree, a thorough 
and rapid job may be done. 
The question of how far apart 
apples should be left, when thinning, 
has been made the subject of con- 
siderable study by the Michigan Ex- 
periment Station, and is reported in 
their Bulletin No. 281, issued in 1937. 
In this report the method of ‘‘Gradu- 
ated Space’ Thinning is recom- 
mended. By that is meant, apples may 
be left closer on heavy branches than 
on light branches. This method is ex- 
plained in the Bulletin in more detail 
than we can give here, and growers 
who have not seen this Bulletin will 
do well to send to Michigan State 
College, East Lansing, for a copy of it. 
The difference in spacing required 
for different varieties is also discussed. 
The records of this method of thin- 
ning appear to show that the mone- 
tary returns are much greater, and 
the cost is less, than for uniform space 
thinning. 
In orchards where the tendency 
to alternate heavy and light crop 
years has not been overcome, the 
thinning practice naturally will be 
applicable chiefly in the full-crop 
years. 
Some growers have felt that proper 
pruning should make thinning un- 
necessary, but it has not worked out 
that way, especially in varieties which 
bear fruit in clusters. 
The fact that many growers are 
not yet convinced of the value of 
thinning is probably due to their not 
having a thorough knowledge of the 
most efficient methods for doing it. 
Market conditions govern it to some 
extent, of course. Unless the price 
differential between fruit sizes makes 
the growing of larger fruit profitable, 
there may not be much gain. But 
the trend being unmistakably toward 
more ‘‘select’’ products in every line 
of merchandising, it seems very wise 
for apple men to aim their efforts at 
producing the best fruit they can, 
and asking a good price for it. 

SPRAYING 
(Continued from‘ Page 7) 
acts well as a preventative, but if the 
scab is already present the lime sul- 
phur may be necessary. 
Mr. Bolton gives quite a complete 
schedule of the various sprays which 
are used throughout the season, and 
his article is worth a reading. 
J. D. and Homer Coffing of Coving- 
ton, Indiana, point out the vital neces- 
sity of reaching the tops of the trees, 
in another good article in April 1941 
“Hoosier Horticulture.’ They have 
equipped their sprayers with a tower, 
and say that this makes the applica- 
tion of the all-important calyx top-off 
spray much easier and surer. 
The May 1941 “News Letter’’ of 
the Illinois Hort. Society has a helpful 
piece on spraying, giving a chart of 
the amounts of liquid spray required 
for peach trees of varying size. 
Their March issue had a chart of 
experimental spraying work done on 
Rome Beauty apples. 

FLOWERS 
Flowers are God's thoughts of 
beauty taking form to gladden mortal 
gaze. 
—Wilberforce. 
‘Tis writ on earth, on leaf and flower: 
Love hath one race, one realm, one 
power.—Mary Baker Eddy. 


There is not the least flower but 
seems to hold up its head and to look 
pleasantly, in the secret sense of the 
goodness of its heavenly Maker. 
—South. 
13 
