168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



when the tree is in the nursery row. Here the central leader is cut 

 back and the growth of side branches encouraged. It is well to have 

 the main branches or scaffold limbs well distributed along the stem 

 or trunk, and never should two opposite branches be allowed to 

 develop at the same point, for a crotch formed in this way is likely 

 to split. "With most varieties the lowest branch of the tree should 

 be started at a distance of about 20 inches from the ground and 

 the uppermost branch about 30 inches. Three or four main branches 

 are sufficient to form the head. 



The main branches are headed in to about 8 or 10 inches when 

 the tree is set. The following season the secondary branches in turn 

 will need to be headed in. The growth may be directed to some 

 extent by cutting back to a bud pointing in the desired direction. 

 In this way a spreading habit may be induced by cutting back to 

 a bud that points outward. Desj^ite such precautions some varieties, 

 especially when making a strong gi-owth, are bound to grow upright. 

 Trees of such varieties should be headed as near the gi'ound as pos- 

 sible, and even then it will be necessary to check their gi'owth in 

 some way. 



By regularly cutting back the upright branches and by eliminating 

 the cross branches in the center of the tree an open-center habit may 

 be developed and maintained. Short fruiting spurs should be allowed 

 to develop along the main branches. "Watersprouts or " suckers " 

 if headed in will soon develop fruit spurs, and when the center of 

 the tree is kept open the fruit borne here will have an opportunity 

 to develop normally. 



Orchard Renovation. 



In the mature orchards of the east there appears to have been 

 no effort to follow any particular style. Most of the orchards show 

 signs of having received a few feeble and spasmodic applications of 

 the pruning saw, or, to be more accurate, I should say a few slashes 

 with the axe, and judging from the appearance of the wounds the 

 axe was not always a sharp one. Many of these old orchards, al- 

 though unprofitable, are in a good sound condition, and with a little 

 judicious pruning, sprajdng, cultivating and feeding may be put on 

 a profitable basis. 



The pruning of these old existing trees, therefore, is the first prob- 

 lem that confronts the apple grower in the east. The work in most 

 cases consists mainly in cutting out the central leader. Of course the 

 remainder of the tree will require some thinning. All upright grow- 

 ing branches should be removed and the long slender branches headed 

 in. All dead branches and stubs should also be cut o&. closely. 

 Sometimes it will be necessary to clean out and seal up cavities, but 

 if a large proportion of the trees require such surgical treatment it 

 is doubtful whether the orchard will bear the expense. Knot-hole 

 cavities, after being cleaned out, sterilized and having the surround- 



