THE STAND OF TREES 



213 



Vigor is far more important than age. The vigor should be in 

 the roots and trunk. Indeed, if the roots are poor the outlook 

 is rather hopeless. But with a good root system and with a 

 sound trunk and main branches it makes little difference how 

 much dead wood there may be among the smaller branches. "We 

 can judge of the root system by the amount of growth being 

 thrown out by the top. If the original branches are killed 

 by San Jose scale but the roots remain sound, the tree will at 



Fio. 91. A good type of tree for renovating. If the dead wood is cut out and the sucker 

 removed from about the trunk it will very soon develop into an excellent tree. 



once throw out a large number of water-sprouts to take care 

 of the food being sent up by the roots. Water-sprouts are, there- 

 fore, always a hopeful sign in an old, neglected tree. They 

 indicate vigor and are useful in forming the future top, as will 

 be explained later (Figs. 94, 100 and 102). 



The Stand of Trees. Having decided favorably as to the 

 age and vigor of the trees, the next question of importance to 

 the owner is the stand of trees in the orchard. Where there are 

 many gaps in the orchard its value is very much reduced. Of 



