18 



orchards that the first year's work is far more difficult than that of any succeeding 

 year. Once the scale is brought under control it is not very difficult to keep it 

 there; in fact I consider it easier to combat successfully than the Codling Moth in 

 the warmer parts of the Province. 



Teeatment of Oechaeds, Especially of Old, Neglected Apple Oechaeds, 

 Befoee Speaying. — Every orchard before it is sprayed should be carefully pruned 

 to thin out any unnecessary branches and to remove dead or dying ones. This lets 

 in the sunlight, allows the spray to reach every part more easily, and causes less 

 waste. The trees are also healthier and bear better fruit. 



Old, neglected apple orchards, however, require much more work to put them 

 into shape for satisfactory spraying. They are often so tall and thick with branches 

 that it is impossible to spray them thoroughly just as they are. Moreover the 

 trunk and larger branches are covered with loose bark, under _which the scale may 

 be concealed and be untouched by the spray. Such trees should always have the 

 branches well thinned out, and if tall, headed back to a reasonable height for con- 

 venient spraying It is usually desirable to lower the tops considerably, sometimes 



^f^^^ 



Fig. 10. Prospalta aurantii, a common parasite of the scale in some 

 parts of North America, greatly enlarged (after Howard). 



as much as eight feet or more. In doing this one should use judgment, and should 

 try to make a well-balanced head. It is especially important in cutting back the 

 upright branches to cut close to a cross branch, especially to one running in such a 

 direction as to keep the centre of the tree from being too open. Open centres tend 

 to favor sunscald on large branches and are also undesirable, because this part 

 should, like the rest of the head, be bearing fruit ; in fact it is the part best adapted, 

 because receiving most sunlight, to bear the choicest fruit. Catting close to cross 

 branches is necessary, because if this is not done the stubs that are left will rot and 

 cause the tree to become hollow and thus weakened. Large cuts should be painted 

 with white-lead or coal tar. 



Where the orchard is large and help scarce the pruning may be done in scale 

 infested districts at any time after the leaves are off, and the work in this way be 

 distributed over several months. I find long-handled pruners, about eight or ten 

 feet long, very helpful in thinnings out branches one inch or under in diameter. 

 They cost from 80 cents to $1. Good ladders also soon pay for themselves. All 

 prunings should be burned before the end of May. 



