ORCHARD MANAGEMENT. 29 



market is on your own coast, while the home markets of the 

 eastern section of the United States are made up of the most 

 discriminating and appreciative class of consumers in the whole 

 country. 



I verily believe, that as a broad and general proposition Maine 

 offers greater advantages for apple growing and larger financial 

 returns for the capital and time invested than does California 

 with its oranges. 



RENOVATION OF ORCHARDS AND REDUCING NUMBER OF 



VARIETIES. 



As the result of an orchard survey in your state it is most 

 evident that apple growing, in common with most other lines 

 of agriculture, has suffered greatly from the development of 

 manufacturing industries and the consequent immigration of 

 people from the country to the large towns and cities ; hence, as 

 in many other sections of New England, one finds many old 

 orchards in various degrees of physical condition; by reason 

 of neglect, associated with starvation and natural decay. Some 

 of these orchards may be renovated by the use of some judicious 

 treatment but many of them are beyond hope. 



Whether the orchard may be renovated profitably will depend 

 on (a) its age and physical condition, (b) location or site and 

 (c) the variety. The apple tree is such a wonderful tree and 

 has such great recuperative powers that almost undreamed of 

 results may be accomplished by intelligent treatment. This 

 treatment consists in pruning, — removing all dead and broken 

 limbs, and native sprouts. As few large limbs as possible 

 should be removed, and wherever they are cut, the wound 

 should at once be healed with lead and oil. Let this process of 

 pruning be extended over a season of three years before it is 

 hoped to get trees back into proper shape and form. The trees 

 should be sprayed and all loose and shaggy bark should be 

 removed. This will make spraying more effective and likewise 

 add to the physical appearance of the tree and of the orchard. 



Plant food must be provided or the physical condition of the 

 soil about the trees must be improved so that the latent fertility 

 of the soil may be available for plant food. In no known way 

 can plant food be made more available than by plowing and 



