833 



more spreading in their habit, about three or four feet from the 

 ground. Trees so headed can be much more economically and 

 thoroughly sprayed, and all orchard operations other than cultiva- 

 tion can be done more easily, a fact particularly true in the case of 

 picking. Such trees are also less liable to injury from the wind; 

 and dropped fruit suffers little injury by falling. Furthermore, all 

 evidence goes to show that they bear earlier than a high-headed 

 tree. Sometimes the objection urged is that they cannot be so well 

 cultivated, but this is more seeming than real. In order to go very 

 close to the tree, the branches must be so high that a horse can pass 

 under them without striking the hames. Eventually all such lower 



FK.. 224. (JuKKMM, TI;I:K 22 YEAKS OLD, 1 1 KAI>KI> For'n FKKT FROM 

 GROUND, ON FARM OF EDWARD VAX ALSTYXE, KIXDERIIOOK, N". Y. 



branches decay and must be removed, with the result that all 

 trees headed thus high become top-storied and make undesirable 

 stock. 



The writer has done more injury to his trees by very close work- 

 ing than he has realized benefit from the practice. With modern 

 orchard tools, cultivation can be done under the low-headed tree 

 as close as is necessary. After the branches cover the ground little 

 will grow under them ; and, in any event, deep cultivation close to 

 the tree is always to be avoided. 



