The Renewal of the Neglected Orchard 



1559 



surface to the uppermost part of the trees. When such conditions prevail 

 there is no doubt as to the advisabihty of cutting out some of the trees. 

 Even when this crowding is not so evident, the trees are often too close. 

 In apple orchards in which branches begin to interlock, the fruit is rendered 

 inferior in size and in color- — -two factors of great importance. In order 

 to color up the fruit, it may be necessary to cut out some of the trees so 

 that the sunshine can get down around the sides of those that remain. 

 A good method to follow in cutting out trees is to remove every alternate 



Fig. 231. — The result of lack cf drainage 

 (Courtesy of Bureau of Soils, United States Department of Agriculture) 



oblique row. This means taking out every alternate tree in each row' 

 so that the tree that is cut out in one row is opposite the tree that is left 

 in the next row. 



A careful map of the orchard should be made before beginning to cue 

 the trees, and such trees as are in poor condition indicated thereon. With 

 this map it is easy to tell which oblique rows should be eliminated in order 

 to remove the greater number of poor trees. 



Changing from sod to cultivation 



The neglected orchards in the State are in sod, and probably have been 

 in sod for several years. In many cases a crop of hay is taken from the 



