72 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PRUNING OF NEGLECTED APPLE ORCHARDS. 



MELVIN A. RUSSELL^ LUDINGTON. 



Pruning was one of the first operations devised as an aid in the pro- 

 duction of fruit. Hours might be spent in discussing it in its many phases, 

 but never tlie less I think that by attacliing this limited subject, I can 

 bring before you in a few minutes tlie more important points about prun- 

 ing neglected apple orchards. 



In spite of the well known fact that pruning is necessary in the pro- 

 duction of good apples, many farmers seem to have labored under the 

 impression that after an apple tree is twenty or thirty years old, it no 

 longer requires annual pruning, but will thrive as well if left to its 

 own resources as if pruned and cared for. As a result of this wrong 

 idea, nearly every early settled neighborhood in our state has a number 

 of old farm orchards that have become unproductive, unprofitable, and 

 in many cases unsightly, through lack of proper care. 



The importance of spraying and cultivation in bringing an old orchard 

 into productiveness must not be overlooked. But pruning is usually the 

 first task and one that greatly facilitates the spraying and cultivation 

 which are to follow. 



Broadly speaking, there are three objects to be sought in this kind of 

 pruning : The dead branches must be removed, the head of the tree must 

 be thinned out to admit sunshine and the circulation of air, and the 

 fruit bearing area of the tree should usually be lowered. 



In some cases a tree may be greatly improved by simply trimming 

 out the dead branches. But as a rule after this has been done the head 

 of the tree is still too thick. It must be thinned out by removing the 

 inferior branches and those which do not go to make a good shaped head. 

 Just what and how much to prune off is a problem that is solved only 

 by good judgment and a great deal of experience. 



Many old apple trees even after having been well thinned out, are 

 still so tall that it is almost impossible to work in their highest branches. 

 It is a common occurrence for a tall tree to bear its finest apples just 

 beyond the reach of your longest ladder. So it is generally necessary to 

 lower the fruit bearing area by cutting back the long upright branches. 

 Much depends upon the tree and the ideal of the pruner how much to 

 cut back the head, but as a rule it should not be left more than twenty 

 feet high. 



Because of the harm resulting from throwing the root area and the 

 leaf area of the tree out of balance, it is better to spread this severe 

 pruning process over two or three years, but for the sake of economy 

 it is often done in one operation. 



The best time for this pruning is in late winter or early spring. Here, 

 as in other horticultural operations, the details are important. Branches 

 should always be cut off as closely as possible. If stubs are left pro- 

 jecting, they will not heal over, but will rot back and often leave an ugly 

 hole in the trunk of the tree. Large wounds should be painted over 

 with pure white lead and raw linseed oil. Painting does not help to 



