Apri], 1913] THE REJUNEVATION OF OLD ORCHARDS 



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way, every alternate diagonal row should be removed. This will 

 remove half the trees. 



PRUNING. After all the superfluous trees have been removed the 

 remainder should be carefully pruned. The winter is the best, as 

 well as the most convenient time for this work. All the dead and 

 diseased wood should be first removed, followed by other limbs that 

 cross or run parallel with each other, and all long and ungainly 

 branches should be headed back to make the tree symmetrical. In 

 many cases this will be pruning enough for the first season. Where 

 the tree is over twenty-five feet in height, it is best to head back the 

 top to bring the bearing surface nearer the ground. 



In remodeling the trees it usually pays to make haste slowly for 

 while severe pruning stimulates growth, overdoing the matter will 

 start a rank growth of watersprouts and may interfere with the pro- 

 duction of the fruit buds. With a healthy tree it is usually better 

 to extend the pruning over two years instead of doing it all at once, 

 but with a very weak tree it is safe and advisable to cut out all 

 that is necessary the first season, in order to produce as great a 

 growth as possible. 



The one all important fact to remember in pruning is that if 



Fia. 3. If a stub is left, death and decay that reaches into the heart-wood soon follow. 



