RENOVATma OLD ORCHARDS. 81 



off the old dead bark, break up the lodges of insects in 

 the root, body or limbs, and make a thorough applica- 

 tion of the coal tar wash. Examine the trees often dur- 

 ing the season, destroying borers or other insects, and 

 wash the body and forks occasionally. The root will 

 need attention also. Root-pruning and manuring are 

 usually combined in one process by digging a trench a 

 foot or more wide and a foot in depth around the tree, at 

 a][distance from the stem of three-fourths the length of 

 the limbs, and filling it with good compost. One of our 

 most intelligent horticulturists recommends digging 

 trenches around the tree the width of a spade, from 

 two to four feet apart, radiating from the tree as repre 



Fig. 77. 



sented in Jig. 77, and filling them with compost. After 

 a thorough overhauling in this way, the old tree, if not 

 too much exhausted, will soon show signs of new life. 

 Andj'if ^manuring, the necessary pruning and good culti- 

 vation, are given in after years, full crops of fruit will be 

 the reward. 



