Jean, Please comment/correct my impressions of what principles are involved with the le Mur fruitier system.
1) The tree form result is a wall which is 1 meter thick at the base, 1/2 meter wide at the top. 2) Mechanical pruning consists of a single annual shearing at 6 to 8/10 leaves upon the fruiting shoot. Exception being first year conversion when a single shearing would additionally take place as buds break in the spring. 3) That initial spring shearing stimulates numerous points of growth, which will later be sheared at the 6-10 leaf shearing. 4) The shearing at 6-10 leaves is timed to coincide with a relatively short period of time before summer solstice. 5) This shearing shortly before solstice allows for short extension of growth. As solstice is passed, days begin to become shorter. As days become shorter, tree is keyed to shift from vegetative growth to reproductive, and so extension growth is limited and conversion of growth to fruiting bud initiation begins. 6) With total width of no more than 1 meter, sunlight needs to travel no more than 1/2 meter to reach trunk (assuming north/south orientation), and so an adequate amount of sunlight exposure is maintained though out the canopy. 7) Depth or severity of pruning is determined by crop load. If crop is heavy, then more severe, or deeper shearing is employed. 8) Tree planting distance is 80cm by 3 meters. 9) Conversion from axis, tall spindle and super spindle tree forms are possible. 10) Hedging must occur when dry weather is predicted and conditions for fireblight infection are not high. 11) The year of conversion will result in significant yield reduction. 12) Initial spring shearing year of conversion should be at 40 cm from the trunk at the base, tapering to 20 cm at the top. 13) Mechanical thinning of blossoms is encouraged by this system. 14) Mechanical thinning should take place at the pink bud stage. 15) Yield increase of 10% as compared to traditional hand pruned trees is expected. 16) Increase in red color is expected. 17) Decrease in fruit sunburn is expected. 18) Total reduction in labor requirements is expected in the range of 10%. You are most kind to comment on these impressions. If there are additional points you believe I should consider, please feel free to bring them into the discussion. Thank you again, Maurice Tougas Fruit grower Northborough, MA On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 12:29 PM, maurice tougas <appleman.maur...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello Jean, > > This must be my lucky day. > Je dois traiter ma femme à dîner ce soir! > I will soon develop a list of questions for you. > Thank you so much for your offer. > > Maurice > > > 2011/4/1 Jourdain Jean-Marc <jourd...@ctifl.fr> >> >> Hi Maurice >> >> To my knowledge there is no translation of the book. Since the concept was >> created in our orchards here in Lanxade Centre (near Bergerac South West of >> France), I shall be able to answer all questions. >> >> The first rows of this training system were planted in 1995 for better >> access to fruit, since we were hosting a robotic harvester program at that >> time. Then the robotic program fell down, too much cost, too poor yield, >> then we decided to go on with the orchard. >> >> Jean Marc Jourdain >> Ctifl >> Centre manager >> Jourdain(at)Ctifl.fr >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: maurice tougas <appleman.maur...@gmail.com> >> Date: Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 7:24 AM >> Subject: "Pommier, Le Mur Fruiter" >> To: Andre Tougas <tougasf...@gmail.com> >> >> >> Croppers, >> >> >> >> Does anyone know of a translated version of "Pommier, le Mur fruitier"? >> >> >> >> I am intrigued by the concept of this system after having traveled to >> Belgium last week scouting visits for the IFTA study tour this summer. We >> saw example of orchards trated with this system, and will be visiting them >> in July. The above publication appears to be the best coverage of the system >> I've seen. >> >> >> >> Alas, mon papa is no longer with me to help me with this. >> >> >> >> Maurice Tougas >> >> -- >> Maurice Tougas >> Tougas Family Farm >> Northborough,MA 01532 >> 508-450-0844 >> >> >> -- >> Maurice Tougas >> Tougas Family Farm >> Northborough,MA 01532 >> 508-450-0844 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> > > > > -- > Maurice Tougas > Tougas Family Farm > Northborough,MA 01532 > 508-450-0844 > -- Maurice Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough,MA 01532 508-450-0844 _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
