RENOVATION 1 13 



sents some risks and difficulties, so that the orchard 

 must otherwise be much better in order to justify 

 the undertaking. 



It is important also to observe the extent to which 

 an orchard is attacked by insects and diseases. The 

 most important of these enemies and the ones most 

 commonly found in neglected orchards are San 

 Jose scale, oyster shell louse and apple tree canker. 

 All of these can b.e overcome, but to get rid of them 

 requires labor and expense. Therefore, they offer 

 an objection to undertaking the renovation of any 

 orchard, and in case of doubt may turn the decision 

 against the attempt. 



HOW THE WORK IS DONE 



The work of renovating an old orchard consists 

 in a series of operations which must all be brought 

 together in effective array in order to secure success. 

 The most important of these operations, named ap- 

 proximately in the order in which they are under- 

 taken, are (i) pruning, (2) scraping, (3) grafting. 

 (4) spraying, (5) plowing, (6) fertilization, (7) 

 cover cropping, (8) systematic good management. 

 Let us look at these in more detail. 



In most cases the renovation of an old orchard 

 begins with pruning. This pruning is commonly 

 done in early spring, viz., between February 15 and 

 April 15. It would be a decided advantage if a 

 considerable portion of this pruning were under- 

 taken in June or July. In any case it will be best 

 to carry out the work in two or three installments. 

 At the first pruning only the largest broken limbs 

 are to be removed, along with the wood which is 

 actually dead. After them there may be taken out 



