Care and Skill in the Orchard 



If the new order of farming contemplates a larger and 

 more general production of fruit, people must learn how 

 to care for their orchards. There is no profit in neglected 

 trees, but there are returns of $200 to $400 an acre from 

 fruit where a good system of pruning, spraying and culti- 

 vation is followed. 



The fruit crop depends largely upon the efficiency with 

 which the pruning is done in the fall. The uniform dis- 

 tribution of branches, height of branches, height of trees 

 and the health in general of all parts of them left for 

 bearing fruit — all have their influence. Branches should 

 not be left so long and slender that they will not support 

 a goodly burden of fruit. 



As a rule, all water sprouts, those straight shoots run- 

 ning directly up from the main branches, should be re- 

 moved. Limbs that are seen to be partly dead or decayed 

 should be cut back until one is sure no part of them is 

 left, as it would but invite further decay, and the sus- 

 tenance drawn by them would be a useless drain on the 

 vitality of the trees. 



All tall, thick or topheavy trees demand close and care- 

 ful pruning. Fruits which are reared high in mid air are 

 not as exempt from the action of the wind as if they 

 were lower down. The top of the high tree itself is apt 

 to be caught in the wind and damaged, perhaps ruined 

 by being broken down. 



The low down, uniformly pruned tree also will produce 

 more fruit, and of a quality superior to that of the tall 

 tree, while the ease with which the fruit is picked from 



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