102 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



end becomes a heavy producer. It may not be a desirable type to propa- 

 gate and plant henceforth, but he who has such an orchard just on the 

 point of profitable production, should hesitate before deciding that it 

 must be ''renewed" with pruning shears. IMore likely it needs ferti- 

 lizers and organic matter. 



Our conclusions, based on the evidences and data thus far, have led 

 us to prune first a ten-acre block in June, 1914, and some forty acres 

 more in the summer of 1915. When an old orchard grows like a young 

 orchard, it produces fruit like a young orchard — and truly, the trees 

 pruned now almost two years ago are growing like young trees. 



Undoubtedly the most desirable means of renewing lemon trees would 

 be a thoroughly understood method of regular annual or more frequent 

 pruning by which the tendency of trees to fall into slothful and 

 enervated performance would be steadily counteracted. Perhaps there 

 are growers who fully believe this can be done, and there are orchards 

 at the present time twenty to thirty years old which may appear to be 

 strong examples in support of such a belief. However, variations in 

 soil, cultural methods, fertilization, quality, quantity and method of 

 application of irrigation water, location as regards protection from or 

 exposure to frost, winds and sun, adaptability of varieties, variations in 

 tree types due to source of buds or stock — all of these factors are as yet 

 inseparably involved in the study of every orchard. Only after reliable 

 demonstrations under each and all of these varying conditions, and cov- 

 ering a period extending well into the next generation, will it be possible 

 for any one to say whether or not the annual pruning could be so done 

 that trees will not become superannuated. 



