BULLETIN 141 



The Rejuvenation of Old Orchards 



W. H. ALDERMAN. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In West Virginia there are according to the last census 4,570,948 

 apple trees of bearing age grown on 76,122 farms, making an 

 average of 60 trees per farm. The value of the crop in 1909 was 

 $2,461,074 or an average of $32 per farm, or about fifty-four cents 

 per tree. When we consider that some of the best commercial 

 orchards yield an income of $5.00 and over per tree, we know that 

 a great many of the orchards of the State must yield practically 

 nothing to bring the average so low. A conservative estimate made 

 by several people conversant with lodal conditions, places only one- 

 half the bearing trees in West Virginia as yielding profitable crops. 

 The other half, due to neglect, to the ravages of insects and disease, 

 to poor locations, to ignorance or indifference on the part of the 

 owner, are not paying for the use of the ground upon which they 

 stand. 



' ' How can I bring my old orchard into bearing ? " is the question 

 often asked. Before answering this question, let us see why the 

 old orchard is not already bearing. Let us first diagnose the case 

 and then suggest the remedy. 



Causes Leading to the Decadence of Old Orchards. 



LACK OF SPRAYING. Failure to spray the trees, thereby allow- 

 ing the various insects and diseases to ravage the orchards without 

 restraint, has been one of the most common causes of unproductive 

 orchards. The San Jose Scale is one pest present in practically 

 every section of the State, and freedom from its attacks is purchased 

 only at the cost of eternal vigilance and intelligent spraying. 



IMPROPER PRUNING. Careless, injudicious or ignorant pruning 

 has ruined many an otherwise promising West Virginia orchard. 



