296 BULLETIN 226. 



The problem of renovation was undertaken with vigor. The water was 

 drained off, the land was plowed, and thus the soil brought into such a 

 condition that the plant-food would be available. The trees were freed 

 of dead wood, the worst canker-diseased limbs removed, and the whole 

 was disinfected by the liberal use of Bordeaux mixture and arsenic. 

 Plant-food was supplied to produce the most essential crop new wood. 

 The following tabulates the cultural method: 



1896. Orchard was in sod ; the grass was mowed. 



1897. Orchard was plowed and beans were grown. 



1898. Orchard was manured and beans grown again, followed by crim- 



son clover. 



1899. Orchard was manured and crimson clover plowed under. 

 1900-1904. Orchard has been manured every year and buckwheat is 



grown, to be rolled down toward ripening time of the fruit. 



During the last three years every tree in the orchard received each year 

 one-quarter of a load of manure, to which was added in 1904 for each 

 tree 12 pounds of a good commercial fertilizer containing 8 per cent 

 potash and 10 per cent phosphoric acid. 



Spraying has always been faithfully done, crop or no crop ; for Mr. Pettit 

 knows that he must have a healthy vigorous tree before he can obtain a 

 profitable crop. Here is the spraying program of the season of 1904: 



First spray: When blossom buds began to swell. 



Second spray : As soon as the blossoms dropped. 



Third spray : About two weeks after second spray. 



Fourth spray : A partial spray July 25. This had no apparent effect. 



The spray used was Bordeaux mixture and Paris green, slightly 

 decreasing the amount of blue vitriol with each successive spraying. 



This orchard may well be called a " rejuvenated " orchard, for hardly 

 any of the old tree-tops exist now. The Kings, Greenings and Russets 

 have grown entirely new tops in the course of the eight years during 

 which Mr. Pettit has handled the trees, and the Baldwins are doing-so, 

 although at a slower rate. I remember one particular Spitzenburg tree 

 which tells the story of many hardships. By continued spraying and 

 generous feeding the many old cankers are nearly overgrown by new 

 wood, and a new top has been produced which looks vigorous and 

 healthy and ready to do business for many years to come. 



Now if we want to renovate orchards, for business, how does the 

 account of this orchard balance? Is it worth while to borrow money in 

 order to invest it in orchard renovation ? Mr. Pettit kindly placed at my 



