XVIII 



RENOVATION OF OLD ORCHARDS 



The most profitable orchard is unquestionably one 

 that is thrifty and moderately young. It is an orchard 

 which is started right and which is kept on the right 

 track from the beginning. Nevertheless many farms 

 in the country have old orchards neglected for some 

 time and partially run down but still too valuable to 

 be abandoned. While such plantations cannot be re- 

 garded as the best basis on which to found the apple 

 business, they are still worth taking into consideration. 



There is no question about the practicability of 

 renovating old orchards of this kind. The only ques- 

 tion is with respect to the age and condition of the 

 trees. If the trees form a satisfactory stand on the 

 ground, that is to say from 60 to 90% of a full stand, 

 and if they are not too badly broken by disease and 

 neglect, the problem of bringing them into profitable 

 condition is a fairly simple one. As a rule it may be 

 said that trees more than 35 years old, those which 

 have the tops badly broken, those which are badly 

 infested with canker or San Jose scale, and orchards 

 in which the stand is less than 60%, or those which 

 are located in unsuitable soil, are not worth the labor 

 and expense of rejuvenation. 



In case it seems wise to undertake the rehabilitation 

 of one of these old orchards the procedure is fairly 

 simple. It consists merely in giving the best possible 

 treatment all along the line. The thing cannot be 



