250 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



To a large extent, I answer yes, but we must revolutionize our methods 

 of propagation, must have our pedigree trees and breed from strains of 

 excellence just as the stockman does. No bud or cion cut except from 

 strong-blooded trees with perfect growth of trunk, limb, leaf, and fruit, so 

 that in future years we may not only boast but base our values on ttie 

 ancestry of our orchards. 



IMPROVING AN ORCHARD. 



By Feed W. Card, Kingston, R. I.* 



Apples are scarce. They are never too plenty, except for the man who 

 sells; they are often too few. Many orchards bear worms and "moss"; 

 few bear apples that are worth the eating. It costs more to grow apples 

 than to grow worms. Will it pay? Perhaps; perhaps not. It may or 

 may not pay in current coin. It will pay in rosy cheeks, laughing eyes, 

 and happy children. It should pay in both ways. 



The Rhode Island Experiment Station was given permission to manage 

 a neglected orchard in 1899. It was a home orchard of something less 

 than an acre, containing many varieties, which had been planted about 

 twenty-five years. When work was begun the trees looked very unprom- 

 ising; they had made little growth, and the trunks were covered with 

 lichens, or "moss." No fruit of value had been produced for several years. 

 The treatment given it by the station was such as any farmer might afford. 



The first thing done was to scrape off the rough, loose bark from the 

 trunks and branches, and prune the trees. This rough bark may do little 

 harm, but it denotes lack of thrift and affords a harbor for insects. The 

 pruning was simple in this case; only dead branches and crowding suckers 

 were removed, now much to prune in other cases will depend upon the 

 condition of the trees. If they are old and decrepit, with dying branches 

 and failing strength, pruning should be vigorous. An apple tree can be 

 renewed like a grape vine. A wealth of suckers is its signal that such 

 renewal is needed. In extreme cases a tree may even be cut to the ground 

 and another built upon a young shoot which spi'ings up. This is seldom 

 demanded, but with old trees which have lost their vigor, whose branches 

 are diseased, and which have made but little growth, quicker returns and 

 better fruit may come from heroic treatment. Cut out the old branches 

 ruthlessly. Leave vigorous young suckers to take their place. A new top 

 will quickly form, and better fruit will result. If trees are not so far on 

 the decline, such pruning will not be needed. It may then be confined to 

 thinning out useless branches. Sunshine and air should have free access. 



Apples contain plant food. The tree must be fed to produce them. 

 Some soils are strong enough to produce crops year after year without 

 manure; most soils are not. The soil of this orchard is light and sandy. 



* Field work in charge of G. E. Adams. 



