Thinning Fruit

It is not often that amateur fruit growers practise thinning. They are too pleased to have the fruit to part with any of it. This is all very well in its way, but it is possible to have too much even of a good thing. There are years in which fruit trees escape all the obstacles to heavy cropping - frosts and insects included - in so remarkable a degree as to be roped with fruit from top to bottom. If the whole of the crop ripened, two things might be counted on: very small individual fruits, and a poor crop the following year. It is a safe rule with Apples and Pears to leave only two fruits on each spur; if large fruits are wanted, only one should be allowed. Any thinning that is required should be done now, before the fruit has swollen much.

Fig. 46. - Thinning Apples.

a. The right fruits to retain.

b. The fruits to be removed.

Summer Pruning

Fruit growers differ as to the best time for and method of summer pruning, but there are very few who do not believe that summer pruning of some kind is good. It prevents the summer side shoots, or breast-wood, on which it is practised, from getting into a crowded mass, and by exposing the older wood to sun and air facilitates wood ripening, which is favourable to fruitfulness. Some growers like to operate twice: the first time about the middle of June, when the shoots have extended a few inches, and when the tip is nipped off; the second about the end of July, when the secondary shoots which have broken as a result of the first pinching are stopped. Others prefer to make one operation of it, and prune only at the end of July or in the early part of August, shortening the shoots then to six leaves. Experiments are interesting, and fruit growers may try both plans, and compare results.

Fig. 47. - Summer Pruning: Apple.

a. Side shoots to be shortened.

b. Side shoots not to be shortened.

c. Leading shoot not to be shortened.

Watering Wall Fruit Trees

Fruit trees on walls are apt to suffer from drought in hot weather, and when they fall into ill-health the grower strains his inventive faculties to find a reason for it. The handle of his pump will often solve the problem. Weakly, canker-stricken, and heavily cropped trees are all greatly improved by waterings that are followed by soakings of liquid manure.

Red Spider On Vines

Red spider sometimes attacks Vines which are swelling up a crop of fruit, and unless it is checked does much damage. A simple remedy is to paint the hot-water pipes with sulphur wash, and then turn the heat on. At the same time, remember that red spider is greatly fostered by a dry atmosphere, and damp down more freely.

Melons

The growths of bearing plants should be kept thin, and the fruiting shoots stopped a leaf beyond the fruit.