518 



AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



cultivator, the horizontal tree being permitted to form second- 

 ary side shoots, and the fan-formed one being limited to main 

 shoots and spurs. 



Fig. 316. 



Full-sized horizontal-trained tree covered with fruit buds. 

 a. A main shoot cut clean out, and a new one forming. 

 &, 6. Dotted lines showing the cutting back of diseased trees. 



Under this non-natural course of treatment trees are more 

 than commonly liable to become diseased. Sometimes it is 

 necessary, and still oftener expedient, to renew certain por- 

 tions of a trained tree by cutting an old main shoot clean out, 

 and forming a new one in its place by gradually carrying a 

 young shoot from the central radiating point, or from the up- 

 right leader, annually shortening and pruning it as in forming 

 the tree at first. See Fig. 316 a. 



If a tree indicates general weakness or disease, and ordinary 

 means fail to renovate it, cut back the whole growth from one 

 third to one half, less or more according to your judgment, as 

 indicated by the dotted lines, figures 312 a, 316 b. Shorten 

 at the same time the side shoots of the remainder ; clear it 

 of insects if infested, by the use of some suitable wash (see 

 page 284) ; change the surface earth around it, substituting 

 fresh surface loam and rotted sod, and, if it seem requisite, 

 give an extra application of liquid manure occasionally, espe- 



