66 FRUIT CULTURE. 



yards; and calculating an acre of such trees 8 feet apart, 

 or 681 per acre, the gross return would be 204 per acre 

 yearly. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 RENOVATING OLD ORCHARDS. 



Many of the old farm orchards in this country are in a 

 most deplorable condition, the result of utter neglect, 

 lack of knowledge, or want of care, and probably in many 

 cases the three combined. Do not, however, too hastily 

 condemn, cut down, and grub up such orchards, but care- 

 fully examine their condition. See whether sufficient life 

 and vigour remain in the trees to pay for an attempt at re- 

 suscitation. Remember the time that it takes for fruit trees 

 to grow and develop before arriving at maturity. If the 

 trees are not too old, and the situation is at all promising, 

 and the soil suitable, or capable of improvement, spare 

 the trees. I have seen some wonderful transformations 

 in such orchards after a year or t\vo of careful attention. 



First ascertain what varieties the orchard contains. If 

 they are suitable, and worth retaining, by all means keep 

 them. Such trees should during the autumn or winter 

 be carefully treated in the way of pruning and cleaning. 

 Cut away all interlacing branches, and do it with no 

 sparing hand, laying all parts of the tree sufficiently open 

 to admit the sun and air. Entirely remove branches 

 where they are too thick, and clear away all superfluous 

 and twiggy growth, leaving sufficient young growth and 

 blossom buds for future cropping, and especially retain 

 all the fruit buds and spurs which are closely set upon 



