102 



NEW AMERICAN ORCHARDIST. 



this work, at page 51. Those directions are particularly 

 applicable to the apple tree. I would only add, that when 

 these directions have been followed, when large and 

 profitable crops are desired, our cultivators generally 

 avoid robbing their trees unnecessarily of a particle of 

 bearing wood. 



Those limbs which interfere with other limbs by galling, 

 the suckers and dead wood, are alone removed ; for they 

 consider that the warmth of the atmosphere is of itself 

 sufficient in our climate to ripen the fruit, without at- 

 tempting to admit the sun to every part of the tree. 



These direction''? are to be more especially observed in 

 regar.d'fo old' trees* in their declining years: their trunks 

 being too old for the reproduction and sustenance of a 

 'crdj) of rtw 3nd fruitful wood, nothing should be taken 

 'away "but the' dead branches and suckers. We have seen 

 old trees, whose branches were annually loaded with fruit, 

 despoiled at once by the hand of man of half their bear- 

 ing wood, under the mistaken idea that the destruction 

 of the one half of the tree would confer a benefit on the 

 remainder, and render it still more productive. We 

 noticed, however, that the effect thus produced was direct- 

 ly the reverse, as their total destruction usually followed 

 as a consequence not long after. 



INSECTS. 



The apple tree has four destructive enemies the cater- 

 pillar, the borer, the canker-worm, and the curculio. 



The Caterpillar usually makes its first appearance with 

 the opening of the leaf of the apple tree : they are readily 

 and easily destroyed if taken in season. They are brought 

 down either by the hand, or by the excellent brush in- 

 vented by the late Hon. Timothy Pickering, which must 

 be attached to a pole. They should be taken early in the 

 morning, before they leave their nests. When brought 

 down, they must be destroyed. The trees should be ex- 

 amined a second time not long after. 



The Borer. The modes of preserving apple trees from 

 the depredations of the borer may be found in the former 

 part of this work. 



Of the Canker-Worm. In the immediate neighbor- 



