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PQMOLOGICAL PARAGRAPHS 



Subsequent Pruning of Young Apple Tre es Af ter Framework has been Esta blished . 



If the orchardist has faithfully pruned his young apple trees during the 

 first three or four years of growth, the tree's framework should be in most 

 instances well established. Subsequent pruning until bearing should be light 

 mainly consisting of the removal of any wood that begins to compete with the 

 scaffolds or leader. No more cutting should be done than is necessary to keep 

 the selected framework of the tree developing properly . The orchardist should 

 not be concerned with the small shoots and spur- like growths on the older parts 

 of the trees, small lateral branches between the scaffolds or a limb that is 

 too low. These may be gradually removed after the trees begin to bear; until 

 then the surplus branches contribute to the total leaf surface on the tree. 



Repair Mouse Damage! 



At the County Fruit Commodity Committee Meetings last fall, some of the 

 growers stated that rodent control was their number one cultural problem in apple 

 orchards. It is realized that the goal of the fruit growers should be the pre- 

 vention of mouse injury but once it has occurred the injury should be repaired! 

 Any tree that has the bark removed from a quarter of the way around the trunk 

 should be repaired. There have been thousands of fruit trees completely or 

 partially girdled in the last few years. On the otherhand, a large number of these 

 trees have not been repaired. Apparently too many growers are failing to examine 

 their fruit trees for sign of mouse injury or are ignoring it. If it was worth 

 the time and money to grow the fruit trees, it should be worth the effort to 

 repair them. 



As soon as the snow disappears in the spring the trees should be examined 

 for signs of mouse injury. By this early attention, the grower will have ample 

 time to secure the scions for bridge grafting or the small seedling trees for 

 in- arching. 



Rotary Mower - Shredders 



Many Massachusetts fruit growers report favorably on the use of rotary 

 mower - shredders for shredding prunings and mowing in orchards. For cutting 

 the prunings, generally the brush is thrown out into the aisles between the 

 trees and the limbs over 2^i inches in diameter are hauled away. High windrows 

 of brush cause difficulty. 



The number of times the mower is run over the brush depends upon the amount. 

 The first time over the tractor is driven slowly. Each time thereafter the 

 forward speed is increased and the cutter is set closer and closer to the ground. 



The "leavings" in the orchard after the use of rotary mower-shredders on 

 prunings have worried some growers who have not used these machines. In orchards 

 where a good job of cutting has been done the "leavings" present no difficulty. 

 The grass growth quickly covers the shredded brush and it is soon out of sight. 

 The majority of growers mow the grass with a rotary mower- shredder which further 

 cuts the prunings into smaller pieces 



