54 



larger income the first few years. Under no conditions 

 would I be tempted to plant peaches as fillers among apple 

 trees. Very often such crops as potatoes, corn and truck 

 can be successfullj'- grown in the young orchard without in- 

 juring the trees. 



The greatest of care should be exercised when purchas- 

 ing young trees to be sure they are free from insects, disease, 

 and true to name It is quite necessary that some precau- 

 tion should be taken to prevent injury very often done 

 by mice and rabbits during the winter months. 



One of the first topics we should consider is pruning, 

 as it should be completed, if possible, before even the dor- 

 mant spray is -applied. Pruning is a subject that has creat- 

 ed considerable discussion and one upon which there are 

 many personal ideas and theories, some of which prove 

 very expensive when practised. Pruning is of vital impor- 

 ance to every commercial orchardist, and is very often sadly 

 neglected at the expense of the crop. I am not an advocate 

 of severe pruning on young apple trees. In fact, I believe it 

 is detrimental. The amount required on older trees will 

 depend largely upon the variety and other surrounding 

 conditions. Any orchard where thorough cultivation is 

 practised certainly requires more pruning than the unculti- 

 vated orchard. Every year experience convinces me the 

 quality of our fruit can be greatly improved in most or 

 chards by more careful pruning. 



Briefly, my idea of a properly pruned apple tree is, 

 first to keep it compact with a rather open center and so 

 pruned as to allow a perfectly free circulation of air and 



sunlight to enter every part of the tree. Always avoid cut- 

 ting off the fruit spurs. Grow the bulk of the crop through 

 the centre of the tree where it is protected from severe 



winds. The trees will carry twice the quantity of fruit with 

 out breaking under these conditions. We find it a great 



advantage M^hen several men are pruning trees of any size 

 to keep one of the most competent ones on the ground 



