Neglected Orchards 285 



bear. In fact, the effect of heavy pruning is likely to be 

 the very opposite of fruit-bearing; but it must be done in 

 most old orchards to bring the trees back into manageable 

 shape, to produce new and fresh wood for fruit-bearing, 

 and to thin the top sufficiently to allow the fruit to 

 develop to something like perfection of size and quality. 

 Weak trees may sometimes be re-invigorated by this 

 heavy pruning alone. Severe heading-in of decrepit peach 

 trees often accomplishes ttiis. Tall long-armed apple 

 trees may sometimes be 

 headed -back severely 

 for the purpose of estab- 

 lishing a new top, if 

 the trees still retain 

 much vigor. When the 

 new wood is once 

 formed and the tree has 

 re-established its equi- 



1 i b r i U m, fruit-bearing p^. 104 . The same tree as Fig. 103, after the 



may be expected to 



begin, if soil is good and other conditions are right. 



It will next be necessary to begin hunting for borers 

 and other squatters and campers. The trees will very 

 likely need to be thoroughly sprayed to dislodge the 

 army of hangers-on that has held undisputed possession 

 of the territory perhaps for a score of years. Cut out dis- 

 eased spots, fill the holes with wax or cement, remove dis- 

 eased limbs, take off the shaggy hanging bark. In other 

 words, it may be necessary to give the trees a general 

 cleaning up. 



If the trees are of the wrong varieties and are still 

 vigorous, it will probably pay to top-graft them, as 

 already explained (page 279), if they are apples, pears, 



