No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 377 



symmetrical and leaving the central leader shoots longer than the 

 others. Avoid crotches, as they will surely split later and ruin 

 the trees. 



THIRD YEAR 



Do not let two branches cross or rub, and if twigs have grown 

 on the foundation branches near the trunks do not disturb them, 

 except to cut back several buds to induce fruit spurs. 



FOURTH YEAR 



Until the trees begin to bear the foundation branches should be 

 cut back annually to make them short and strong to support heavy 

 loads of fruit in the future. After fruiting begins not much prun- 

 ing is necessary, except to thin out surplus growth and keep the 

 tree symmetrical. In cutting or sawing off all limbs the cut should 

 be made close so us m>t lo leave a stub. This is very important 

 for wounds properly jiruned heal over readily, while stubs seldom 

 heal, thus decaying into the trunk is the result of weakening and 

 injury to the tree. 



Another very common mistake is pruning from the bottom up, but 

 this should not be done. Prune from the top down. 



FERTILIZATION 



We get our fertilization in the form of manure, cover crops, and 

 commercial fertilizer. We have excellent railroad facilities, having 

 a siding of the W. M. E. E. right in our orchard. The most of our 

 fertilizer is gotten in the form of manure, bought in the cities of 

 Hagerstown, Washington and Baltimore, in carload lots, and our 

 teams are kept busy hauling from January to March, or up until 

 spraying season for scale. There were three cars standing on the 

 siding when I left home, and the teams are now busy spreading it 

 about the orchard. 



During these months we have quite a little sledding snow, which 

 is the best time for hauling heavy loads, so we get an unusually heavy 

 supply during gciod sledding. Tt is best handled in Gondola cars 

 which average about 30 tons. 



SCALE SPRAYING 



Spraying for San Jose scale is the next work of importance with 

 us, which we start just as soon as weather conditions permit, and 

 push this work very hard in order to get our teams started on culti- 

 vation. If there is such a thing as a commercial orchard of any 

 size being free from scale, I think we have one, for the State En- 

 tomologist and State Horticulturist, as well as the state orchard 

 inspectors, go through our orchards every year and make close ob- 

 servations and have reported free from scale. We spray annually 

 as a preventive using c(mcentrated lime and sulphur 1 to 8. There 

 is only (me way in which to keep your orchard free and that is to 

 spray every year and do it thoroughly. 



