APPLES 



301 



Fig. 1. Live Wood Bolts. 



limbs together. This is better than any 

 system of propping, because it does no 

 injury to the bark of the limbs, as is true 

 with props, as the wind sways the 

 branches and chafes the bark. It is bet- 

 ter than the system of wiring, for wires 

 can only be fastened to the limb by means 

 of wrapping around the branch, or by 

 means of a small hole through it. In 

 either case the limb is more or less 

 injured. 



Gbanville Lowtheb 



How to Grow an Annual Crop of Apples 



The habit of some trees to bear irregu- 

 larly, or to bear every second year, has 

 led to a discussion of the question, "How 

 to make our trees bear a crop annually." 

 This has been done in many instances by 

 pruning and thinning. The trees are 

 thinned to a fair crop each year instead 

 of being allowed to bear heavily one year, 

 and then a light crop the next year. 

 Further, summer pruning causes the for- 

 mation of fruit spurs, and tends to pro- 

 duce a 'crop the following year. 



Mr. John R. Moulton of Weiser, Idaho, 

 gives some good advice adapted to condi- 

 tions in that country, and we believe 

 adapted to many other sections as well. 

 Mr. Moulton says: "The pruning is a very 

 important part; should be done annually; 



not too heavily; cut out all the dormant 

 limbs, and on an old tree that has 

 been bearing heavily, cut out part of the 

 old fruit wood and allow new wood to 

 start. By so doing a process of rebuilding 

 and rejuvenation is continually going on. 

 The tree must be thinned down to what 

 it will bear without breaking. All clust- 

 ers must be thinned to one apple on a 

 fruit spur, and no two apples should be 

 left close enough together to touch. The 

 most important of all, is the question of 

 irrigation, during the months of July and 

 August. During this period, the orchard 

 must be kept wet enough to lieep the 

 fruit growing continually. I believe there 

 are more mistakes made in watering an 

 orchard, than in any other one thing con- 

 nected with orchard work. The orchard 

 must be kept wet enough to mature a crop 

 of fruit and a crop of buds for the next 

 year. A cover crop will form a mulch that 

 will prevent the sun from baking the soil." 



rnniiiiff Relation to Fruit Bearing 



The purpose of every plant is to pro- 

 duce seed, and this seed in turn a like 

 plant. 



So in order to produce fruit, which 

 is but the husk or covering of the seed 

 itself, we must follow Nature as much 

 as possible. 



To begin the tree at planting time, we 

 must build a framework that will per- 

 mit of the most exposure of foliage to 

 direct or indirect sunlight. Sunlight is 

 absolutely essential to plant life. Nature 

 has arranged the leaves on the branches 

 in such a way as to receive as much light 

 as possible. AVe therefore choose the open- 

 center or vase-shaped tree as the shape 

 best suited to the needs of the apple or 

 pear. 



Each tree should have three to five 

 well spaced frame limbs, well distributed 

 upon the trunk of the tree, forming thus 

 a strong whorl that will carry heavy 

 loads without splitting. The tree, either 

 apple or pear, should be cut back and lim- 

 ited to not more than 18 to 24 inches of 

 annual growth depending upon the caliper 

 and strength of the limbs. 



Starting at one year from planting 

 with three or five limbs we will continue 



