THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



387 



small branches and twigs which would heal over readily, and the 

 necessary- thinning out of excessive brush brought about by the liberal 

 application of this method. 



Pruning a tree along these lines involves considerably more labor than 

 the method previously followed in the orchard. None of the trees in 

 this block were large or near full bearing size and yet it required 

 upwards of an hour to thoroughly tip back, thin out and remove 

 mildewed shoots from a single tree. Evidently, pruning along these 

 lines must be productive of radical improvement if the method is to be 

 practical. Striking results were not long in coming for in the early 

 spring these pruned trees put out a vigorous growth practically uniform 

 over the tops as well as on the more protected sides. Also, in spite of 

 the fact that about 75 per cent of the twig growth had been removed, 

 there was a liberal setting of fruit. Careful comparison of the pruned 

 trees with a check row left unpruned indicated that even more fruit 



Fig. 94. — General view of a tree which lias been summer pruned over its entire 

 surface. (Photo by Geo. P. Weldon.) 



had set on the former than the latter. Further comparison of crop 

 results for that year was prevented by an untimely frost which greatly 

 reduced the setting and in a very irregular manner. 



Further treatment of the "Demonstration Plot" as we are now 

 pleased to call it, consisted in spraying for mildew, aphids and cater- 

 pillars. The applications were timed according to the apparent 

 requirements for satisfactory mildew control. A check row was left 

 through the middle of the plot which received no spraying. This 

 check represented the opposite conditions from the one previously 

 mentioned; that is, it was pruned but not sprayed. 



