THE APPLE. 297 



English writers mention instances in which it has 

 attained the age of a'thousand years. Some of the 

 first planted in the United States are now nearly or 

 quite two hundred years old, and are still vigorous 

 and productive. The average age of the apple-tree, 

 in favourable circumstances, Knight considers to be 

 not far from two hundred years ; but, unless in a 

 good soil, they decay much earlier. Writers on 

 this tree mention instances in which from one hun- 

 dred to one hundred and fifty bushels of apples have 

 been produced by a single tree ; and few parts of a 

 farm are more profitable to its owner than an or- 

 chard of well-selected apple-trees. The quality of the 

 fruit in an orchard is greatly influenced by the treat- 

 ment the tree receives. The apple, as well as all 

 other fruits, in order to arrive at perfection, requires 

 the sun ; and hence the fruit on the side of the tree 

 exposed to its influence is always richer than that 

 on the north, or in the central parts of the tree. 

 Pruning exercises great influence on the character 

 of the apple, and this operation should always be 

 conducted with particular reference to the admission 

 of light and air to every part of the fruit-bearing 

 branches. Pruning, in ordinary cases, is delayed 

 until the tree is nearly mined. It is then perform- 

 ed, perhaps ; but such large branches require remo- 

 val, that extensive wounds are made, requiring years 

 to heal entirely over, and furnishing places in which 

 insects and the dry rot establish themselves, causing 

 the destruction of the tree. To be eflTectual, pruning 

 should be annual. The branches cut off will then 

 be small ; such a shape may be given to the head or 

 top of the tree as is wished ; and all danger of bleed- 

 ing or rottenness from the cutting off of large branch- 

 es will be avoided. 



A variety of opinions have been advanced as to 

 tlie proper time of pruning ; but there can be little 

 question that tlie most proper time is immediately 

 after the sap has ceased flowing, and when the new 



