. THE FARMER'S ORCHARD 



147 



two cions on each stub so that the growing tissue of the cion 

 coincides with the growing tissues of the stub. Cover the top 

 and split sides of the stub and the upper tip of the cion with 

 grafting Avax. This should be done a week before the buds 

 start. After the grafts grow for a year, cut out one of them 

 to prevent a bad crotch. Work over one-third of your tree 

 each year. The 

 cions, if inserted ^<^^M* 



into the limb of a 

 bearing tree, will 

 bear fruit in three 

 to four years. 



8. Are the trees 

 crowded so that 

 the head has a 

 tendency to reach 

 up for the light ? 

 If so it might pay 

 to cut out every 

 other tree. Do not 

 de-hort the trees 

 with the hope of 

 giving the head 

 more room. The 

 branches usually 

 run to water 

 sprouts and the 

 tree never recov- 

 ers from the 

 shock if the en- 

 tire head is cut 

 away. 



If you have decided that the orchard is worth saving then you 

 should prune. Use a sharp saw with small teeth. Cut out all 

 dead limbs and limbs that cross. Cut at the collar of the limb 

 and never leave a stub. Do not over prune. Paint all wounds 

 over one inch in diameter. 



Next graft the head if the varieties are not desirable. The tops 

 should be well pruned first, then a root pruning should follow. 



A light, shallow plowing and frequent cultivation is advisable. 

 Cultivate the surface soil so as to form a dust mulch and stop 

 cultivating in July, then plant a cover crop, as suggested in a 

 previous paragraph. 



Fic. (i4. — Oyster Shell Scale, a. under side of female scale, 

 sliowiiig eggs; b. upper side of same, both much en- 

 larged; e. female scales on a branch natural size; 

 (/. male scale, much enlarged ; c. male scales on branch, 

 natural size. The file lines to the right of a, b, and d 

 show the real length of the scales. 



