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standard practice fin eastern commercial apple-producing sections, aa it baa in apple-growing ■states of the far west. Why? There are at least two important reasons. One of these is the more favorable spring climate in the west, which lessens the risk of damage to the set from late spring frosts and freezes. The other if the high harvesting and packing costs, together with high transportation rates, which make it unprofitable to produce apples of small size, poor color, and quality.
The question may well be asked: “What benefits could eastern apple growers expect to obtain from a good thinning program and how (would thinning apples in Virginia stand up when put to the '“willit-pay?» acid *est?" The Good Book states that “man cannot live by bread alone." Neither can Virginia apple growers live and stay in business by having trees that will come through with a good crop of apples every other year or a good crop once in four years.
During t£e years of 1947, 1948, and 1949, Virginia's apple production was materially below average. Low yields saw the unit cost of production op so high that even with fairly satisfactory prices the industry as a whole went sharply in the red.
Again, the nation is at war, a conflict that will require millions of men and enormous quantities , of materials. .Unless a miracle comes to pass, apple growers will experience a labor and material Shortage more serious than has ever been known. The apple industry in such a situation cannot possibly secure the greatest return from its investment and efforts by producing large quantities of low-grade fruit, as they usually do when trees are allowed to overload in heavy crop years. Finally, when consumers have high income, the tendency is to become more discriminating and to demand apples of good size, high color, and high quality.
Just what, then, will thinning do in such a situation? Thinning— out part of the.fruit from overloaded trees will prevent overbearing. It will conserve plant .food substances. K will promote the growth of lafge and better ■leaves, which in turn will mean
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