RENOVATION OF ORCHARDS. 137 



EE^OYATIO:Nr OF FRUIT-TREES. 



BRISTOL. 



Statement of H. P. Crocker, 



The orchard was set out about thirty years ago. It made 

 a good growth for about thirteen years ; about that time it 

 passed into another person's hands. This party desiring grass 

 more than fruit, hiid it down to grass. It remained in this 

 condition some five years. This treatment stopped all growth ; 

 it was completely perforated with borers. The number set 

 out was forty ; ten were dead, leaving thirty, which is the 

 number that I enter. 



At this time, and in this condition, I bought it, which was 

 some twelve years since. The orchard was considered 

 worthless by the owner, and the previous one, but not so 

 by me, as I had some experience with orchards, although it 

 looked like a " sore job." 



Process of renovation ; First, I destroyed all borers by 

 probing with a wire, cutting out with a knife, and scraping 

 up that year's deposit of eggs. Next, I ploughed the soil of 

 the orchard, and manured it. The first year the orchard did 

 not make much growth, of course. The next year it made 

 some growth, and the cavities made by the borers commenced 

 to heal. The third year I manured and ploughed again. 

 This year the whole orchard made a good growth ; most of 

 the trees did not produce desirable fruit. The fourth ^^ear it 

 was in growing condition, suitable to commence to graft. 

 Those who are acquainted with the process of grafting, know 

 it requires three years to graft a tree perfectly. At the 

 expiration of that time it was completed. My system of 

 managing an orchard is to plough and manure every other 

 year. This I have done, and, of course, kept it free from all 

 insects, and properly pruned. 



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