STATK POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33 



The following treatment was recommended : Remove all 

 dead and dying branches, scrape off all decaying or diseased 

 bark, being sure to carefully clean up all infested canker spots. 

 As a precaution, apply a strong solution of copper sulphate, 

 and when dry paint over the exposed surface with a good coat 

 of white lead and oil, to be renewed when the first is dry. This 

 will keep out the air to prevent further decay. Of course the 

 copper solution is to be used simply, you might say, as an insur- 

 ance measure, to be sure that you have destroyed the spores or 

 germs of the canker disease. 



In cases where this treatment has been applied the effect 

 upon the health and vigor of the tree has been very marked. 

 Associated with this treatment should be a very judicious sys- 

 tem of pruning so as not to leave too much top to tax the 

 reduced energy of the tree. For example, if the bark on one- 

 fourth of the trunk was dead, at least one-fourth of the top 

 would need to be removed in order to restore in part the 

 equlibrium of the tree. 



In renovating old orchards I would remove all dead trees, 

 root and branch, cultivate and fertilize for two or three years 

 and refill with young trees. 



Of course if only a few trees remain to the acre, it might 

 be best to clean up and start anew in a different location. If 

 fifty per cent of the trees have to be removed it would be a 

 good investment to give the rest first class care, providing the 

 remaining trees are healthy. A very low estimate for the 

 value of a healthy, vigorous tree of good commercial variety, 

 twenty to forty years old, would be $20 each. With twenty trees 

 left to the acre their value would be $400. It would hardly 

 be worth while to remove these and start over. 



This may seem to be excessive but one has only to estimate 

 a tree in value at the amount on which it will pay six per cent 

 interest. Let us for a moment consider the actual expense per 

 acre of keeping an orchard in an up-to-date condition. We 

 will assume that the trees are set two rods apart and are of 

 good size and in vigorous condition. The actual expense we 

 will estimate as follows : 



Cost : 



Pruning $5-00 



Cultivation 5.00 



