492 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



As for treatment, however, it seems to be clear that if the trees are 

 not too large, the knots can be removed with a chisel and the wound 

 painted with the Bordeaux Mixture to the advantage of the tree; but 

 if the trees are old and the knots so large that their removal would 

 almost girdle the tree, it is a question whether it is not better, on the 

 whole, to take out the trees and plant new ones. It really depends upon 

 the condition of the trees whether it is worth while to remove the knots 

 or not. If the tree has the start of the knot, it will be helped by re- 

 moval ; if the knot has the start of the tree so that it is unthrifty, there 

 is small chance of reinvigorating the knots. This is apparently true, 

 both with young and old trees. Old trees are sometimes badly knotted 

 and still productive and profitable. 



