REJUVENATION OF NEGLECTED TREES 415 



well as the upright ones, may be cut back to advantage, 

 especially with trees lacking in vitality, and also those 

 infested with scale. In. heading-back the upright 

 branches, the cut is usually made just above a side 

 branch that points outward. This tends to make the 

 tree more spreading in habit. With trees that are 

 naturally spreading, and where a more upright growth 

 is desired, the cutting may be done just beyond an up- 

 right side branch. If this method is followed with all 

 horizontal branches, a much stronger structure will be 

 the result. The severity of heading-in will depend largely 

 upon the vigor of the tree. Nothing will start a tree into 

 renewed vigor like severe pruning during the dormant 

 season. The cutting back, therefore, should be more severe 

 with weakened trees. With moderately vigorous trees, 

 there is danger of producing a rank growth in the 

 form of watersprouts. If it is desirable severely to head- 

 back such trees, it is better to do it gradually, a little each 

 year, and withhold all nitrogenous fertilizers. A still 

 better plan would be to remove about half of the required 

 amount of brush during the winter, and the remainder 

 during the growing season. (The effect of summer prun- 

 ing upon the vigor of the tree is just the opposite of 

 winter pruning, and will counteract the stimulating effect 

 of the latter.) With most of the neglected orchards, 

 however, the vitality is so low that most of the pruning 

 may be done, without fear of injury, during a single 

 dormant season. 



"The severity of cutting-back will also depend upon 

 the presence of scale. The work of spraying is greatly 

 simplified and the chances for success in controlling the 

 scales are greatly enhanced by extreme methods of 

 pruning. 



"After the trees have been sufficiently headed-in, all 

 dead and diseased branches should be removed, and also 

 such other branches as are necessary to produce a condi- 

 tion favorable to the free circulation of air and the admis- 



