Fruiting branches were regularly removed field plantings of cotton in a three year study in Arizona. Excised branches were removed before the first flower appeared on that branch. No branches were removed after August 15.

The removal of up to three-fourths of all fruiting branches which developed prior to august 15 had no effect on final yield of the plots. In one year, 1979, removal of three-fourth of the branches resulted in a statistically significant yield increase.

Removal of the branches caused a shift of the placement of the harvested balls. A larger proportion of the bolls were at nodes three or greater on the branches were a larger fraction were in the upper third of the plant branches were removed.

These observations show a remarkable capability of the cotton the entire plant to compensate for loss of fruiting sites branch is removed.