386 



THE APPLE 



Insects and diseases. The trees should be watched for insects 

 and diseases, and if any are discovered, some treatment should be 

 given. If the insect is seen eating the leaves, destroy the pest by 

 putting poison on the leaves. If the leaves or other parts of the 

 tree show any of the changes mentioned in Chapter XIX, apply 

 the remedy prescribed for that particular disease. If other troubles 



develop and it is impos- 

 sible to diagnose them, 

 write a full description and 

 send a sample of the pest 

 to your state experiment 

 station or to the United 

 States Department of Agri- 

 culture at Washington. 



Pruning. Trees should 

 be properly pruned. It is 

 possible, if pruning begins 

 when the tree is young, 

 never to remove any wood 

 larger than half an inch in 

 diameter. However, most 

 men, even experienced or- 

 chardists, cannot always 

 foretell the growth and 

 other changes that passing 

 wars will make, and it is 

 sometimes necessary to 

 remove larger limbs. 



In pruning keep the 

 tree low with a moderately 

 rounded top, thus making the breadth of the top (where the limbs 

 and twigs are) greater than the height of the tree. Do not allow 

 the limbs to cross each other and rub, or to grow back into the 

 tree, or to become too numerous. Keep the head of the tree some- 

 what open to admit sunlight. Sometimes one side of the tree grows 

 faster than the other. Try to encourage the weaker side by pruning 

 back the stronger. In other words, keep the tree symmetrical, well 

 balanced, low, and open, and encourage correct growth. 



Fig. 17 i. Good products of the home 



Young apple tree headed low, growing on the sands 

 of central Long Island. (Courtesy of H. B. Fullerton) 



