32 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENsioN Service  [Circ. 42

surprising how quickly an individual can learn to closely estimate the
number of peaches on a tree with a little practice. A thinning
schedule adapted from Weldon is shown in table 2. Any desired
vield ean be computed from the fieures given.

TABLE 2

THINNING SCHEDULE OF PEACHES

Number of peaches to be left on each tree to produce the tonnages indicated,
of the 24-inch or of the 2%4-inch size

Tons per acre
desired

Trees planted 20 feet .
by 20 feet
(108 per acre)

> 14-inch size

23/.inch size

Trees planted 24 feet
by 24 feet
(75 per acre)
23-inch size

3lé-inch size

70 54 101 7
350 270 505 385
700 | 540 | 1010 | 770
1050 810 1515 1155

Peaches are thinned by hand. All misshapen, blemished, or otherwise
 inferior fruits are removed, leaving one specimen to a eluster, and
spacing the remainder to the desired distance. In connection with
thinning, judicious dormant pruning to remove excess fruiting wood
is helpful. Under some conditions, such as low priees or shortage of
labor, thinning may be done by means of long poles.
Bracing. *>—When the crop is heavy, propping or bracing is necessary
 to prevent the breakage of limbs (fig. 7). Young trees may be
supported by passing rope around the outer limbs. After the trees
have attained sufficient height, a permanent system of wiring may be
installed. There are various systems and kinds of equipment used
ranging in cost from 25 to 35 cents per tree.
Removal of Trees—In the case of unprofitable orchards or of
orchards too closely planted it is sometimes necessary to remove all or
some of the trees. This may be accomplished best by pulling them
when the ground is wet, or by blasting when the ground is dry. One
method of removal by pulling is by means of a team or tractor and
a tackle with a chain around the trunk near the ground. Another
method is by means of a portable derrick (fig. 8), which is set in place
over the stump to be removed. Trees to be removed may previously
be cut back to stumps and these left to die and the roots to partially

15 Barnard, L. C. Central wire bracing for fruit trees, California Agr. Exp. Sta.
Cir. 244:1-10. 1922,