220 



RENOVATING OLD ORCHARDS 



Scraping. — Another operation which, ought usually to accom- 

 pany the pruning is scraping off the rough bark. This is re- 

 garded by some as of doubtful utility, but it is usually very 

 desirable. It helps to get rid of a large number of insects, eggs 

 and fungous spores. There can be no question about that. And 

 where the orchard is affected with San Jose scale this scraping 

 is imperative, since live scales will be found hidden away under 

 the old scaly bark and these can never be reached by the spray 



Fig. 97. — Beginning the work of renovating an old apple tree; a high top full of dead wood. 



Compare with Figure 98. 



Fia. 98. — The same tree aa shown in Figure 97 after three years' treatment. It ia now an 



excellent tree. 



mixtures unless the old bark is removed. ]\Iore than this, it has 

 always seemed from pure theory that the bark will expand better 

 and tlie whole tree respond better to the efforts in its behalf if 

 this old, mossy, scaly covering that it has carried for so many 

 years is removed. 



2. Grafting. — If the trees in the orchard are of satisfactory 

 varieties the owner is saved this expense, but it usually happens 

 that a few trees are of poor sorts, and sometimes a large number 

 have to be worked over. This matter of grafting is really a 



