THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 139 



to grow good fniit. The proper care of a commercial apple orchard is then a live and 

 pertinent subject. 



The five fundamental principles of fruit growing all find a place of greater or less im- 

 portance in handling a commercial apple orchard, viz.: Pruning, spraying, cultivating, 

 fertilizing and thinning. In all of these only general suggestions may be given and much 

 must be learned by experience. 



In the work of pruning one may learn profitable lessons by observang the practices and 

 methods of others. In riding through the country it will be noticed that in the older 

 orchards the bearing wood has been trained away from the trunk and away from the earth. 

 Many will be seen that require a ladder at least forty feet long in order to reach the fruit. 

 The bearing branches are pruned to a smaU tuft on the outer end of long bare hmbs, thus 

 forcing the sap to traverse an extensive stretch of rough, dry bark before it can reach 

 the fruit and growing surface. Other instances may be found where the farmers have 

 perhaps improved on this error by neglecting the matter of pruning, with the result that 

 the tops of the trees are more after the fashion of an elevated hedge. Neither class is 

 expected to grow fruit of the best quality. Not the least objectionable feature of such 

 orchards is the extreme difficulty of reaching all parts of the tops with the various spray 

 mixtures. Now, there are a few rules that may be stated that should govern the work 

 of pruning apple trees. Of course all dead or dying branches should be removed. Those 

 that are crossing or chafing should be cut away to prevent this interference, also those 

 growing towards the center of the tops. Water sprouts should be cut out except possibly 

 one that may be trained to fill an imnecessarily large opening. Any branches that are 

 growing more vigorously than the cithei-s should be headed back to preserve a symmetrical 

 head. The lower branches may be pruned to suit the grower's convenience in cultivating. 

 If one is provided with tools suitable for reaching under the tops they may be left quite 

 low. The lower the better. In forming the tops while the trees are young care should 

 be taken not to leave too many branches so that the cutting away of large limbs later 

 may be avoided. Then, when the trees have reached a sufficient height the usual practice 

 should be reversed and instead of cutting the wood out of the inside of the tops the cutting 

 should be around the outside, and the trees should be headed back and the thinning out 

 done then. The tops should be open enough and low enough so that all parts of the tree 

 can be readily reached with the spray mixtures and so that the sun can reach every part 

 of the tree at some time during the day. Very large openings should be avoided, however, 

 prune moderately, especially if the trees are old. If pruning has been neglected don't 

 try to do it all at once. Better take two or three years if necessary. 



Probably no part of the work of orchard care is more important than spraying. These 

 essentials must be observed, viz.: Timeliness, thoroughness and the proper mixtures. 

 The man who makes spraying an incidental matter, a chore that may be done at most any 

 time when other farm work is not pressing, is sure to make a failure. The work must be 

 done at the proper time to be of much avail — and three or four days will often make a 

 large difference in the results. If one has much orchards a power sprayer will be almost 

 a necessity. In ten acres of large trees it will be found a paying investment. In any case 

 avoid cheap pumps, and good hose, extension rods that do not leak and good nozzles 

 are not less important. While the Vermorel nozzle is the one that is universally recom- 

 mended and no doubt makes the most ideal spray of any on the market I find little use 

 for them in spraying large apple trees for the reason that they do not carry the spray 

 far enough. It is impossible to reach all parts of the tree with them unless they are carried 

 on a very long rod or on a tower mounted on the spray wagon. It is exceedingly tiresome 

 carrying a long rod and quite difficult getting the tower between the trees where the tops 

 meet. We use a cluster of Vennorel nozzles in the smaller trees but for the large apple 

 trees and with the power pmnps we have found nothing that suits us quite so well as the 

 Calla nozzle. With these a man standing on the ground with an eight foot extension 

 rod can reach the top of a tree thirty feet high and with a very fair spray. 



The directions for preparing the various spray mixtures are freciuently published, or 

 they may be procured from the State Experiment Station. If the San Jose scale is present 

 the lime-sulphur wash should be applied about the time growth starts. If this is not 

 required I like to give an early application of clear copper sulphate solution before any 

 growth has taken place, using 2h pounds of the sulphate to 100 gallons of water. As the 

 buds begin to show color and before the blossoms open an application of Bordeaux mixture 

 should be made, adding an arsenite if canker worm or other chewing insect is feared. 

 As soon as the petals have fallen another spraying should be given with the Bordeaux 

 and arsenite. Two weeks later the trees should again be gone over, using this same mixture, 

 and should rain wash either of these applications from the trees the sprayings should be 

 repeated. About the first of August the trees should again be sprayed for the late hatched 

 codling moth. For tliis purpose disperene or arsenate of lead is strongly recommended 



