AN ORCHARD SURVEY. 45 



inquired how long it would take to renovate them by pruning 

 and cultivation. 



Prof. Craig stated that he would advise the purchase or rental 

 of such run-down orchards of good varieties, and that it would 

 take from five to six years to bring them into paying condition, 

 if they were not too old or decayed. He had known one to 

 produce a paying crop in three years. 



The first thing to be done to improve a neglected orchard was 

 to open up the soil by shallow plowing or by means of a spring- 

 tooth or disc harrow ; next prune moderately. Then fertiUze 

 with stockyard manure or other nitrogen bearing substances. 

 This treatment to continue abou.t three years. He gave an 

 instance in which a farm had been paid for in a few years from 

 the crop of an orchard of nine acres of Baldwins that had been 

 thus treated. 



J. Woodward Manning inquired how long one could depend 

 upon an apple orchard's producing capacity. 



Prof. Craig answered, sometimes ninety years ; and he could 

 see no reason why they should not last hundreds of j^ears if 

 properly cared for. 



Joshua C. Stone said he could see no reason why an apple 

 orchard should not live and be productive even beyond a hun- 

 dred years. His trees looked as large fifty years ago as they do 

 now. 



