TREATMENT FOR OLD ORCHARDS. 

 By Dr. G. M. Twitchell, Auburn, Maine. 



Delivered before the Society, March IS, 1911. 



A great injury is being done our fruit industry by the over 

 stimulation given the setting of new orchards. Under conditions 

 prevailing all over this country it is wellnigh impossible to get the 

 quality of trees, of the right varieties, for our market and climate, 

 and until we are aroused to the absolute necessity for giving these 

 trees better care and attention, as well as protection from pests 

 and diseases, it would be well for the future if we made haste slowly. 

 The man who fails in his duty to his old orchard never will make a 

 success of the new. 



The State of Maine is well covered with apple trees showing, in 

 far too many cases, evidence of neglect. Our fruit crop is practi- 

 cally one and one-half million barrels, but if the trees now living 

 were properly cared for the crop would be doubled and the small 

 and defective apples wiped out. Our first duty then, is to the old 

 orchard, yes, those scattered trees with seemingly little of live 

 wood in their trunks. Given a chance they will come back wonder- 

 fully. Wisdom and prudence demand that, without delay, all 

 dead or worthless trees or trunks be removed and burned. They 

 are the natural and most inviting lodging places for all pests and 

 disease spores, and, suffering as our orchards are, with contagious 

 diseases, like canker, the removal of these promoters of evil should 

 not be delayed. Another important step is to promptly remove 

 all dead wood or branches, cut in pruning, and burn, keeping the 

 ground about the trees clear of all waste material, the very best 

 harboring place for pests. 



A neglected tree is like a sick man. It cannot do its normal 

 work; it cannot resist disease attacks; it cannot digest hearty 

 food; and it must be treated as weak and lacking in vitality. This 



65 



