392 THE APPLE 



Method of procedure. It is impossible to lay down hard-and-fast 

 rules to be followed in all cases of orchard renovation. No two 

 orchards are just alike, therefore each may require special treat- 

 ment. The best results will come from giving the best treatment 

 in every respect. It would, indeed, be a very short-sighted policy 

 to allow the apples to be disfigured by disease or consumed 

 by insects after going to the expense of thoroughly pruning, 

 fertilizing, and cultivating. 



Orchard renovation is necessarily a rejuvenating process, and the 

 treatment, with some modifications, is the same as that required 

 for a young orchard. The trees, after being stimulated into activity, 

 are maintained in a healthy condition only by regular methods of 

 tillage, fertilizing, pruning, spraying, and the like. 



Diagnosis. The first step is to look the orchard over thoroughly 

 and outline on paper just what should be done in order to put 

 it into proper condition, at the same time keeping in mind the 

 question, Will it pay ? 



If it is decided that the orchard is worth renovating, the trees 

 should be given a general awakening by pruning the limbs, by 

 the addition of plant food, by breaking up and tilling the soil, by 

 spraying, and by other means. The severity of treatment will de- 

 pend largely on the condition of the trees. The index to the health 

 of a tree is the amount of annual growth, which is from 6 to 18 

 inches with a normal tree. The spurlike growth usually observed 

 on neglected trees denotes a lack of vigor. When the annual 

 growth at the ends of the twigs is small, or not more than 2 inches, 

 the treatment should be more severe in every way than when the 

 yearly growth exceeds this amount. 



Thinning the orchard. In many orchards or even among the few 

 trees near a farmhouse the trees are often planted too closely. In 

 most cases they have begun to crowd and grow upwards, or if this 

 is not the case they lack vigor. If these trees are rejuvenated they 

 will soon require more room. For the smaller-growing varieties 

 probably from 25 to 30 feet will suffice, but the larger-growing 

 sorts, such as the Spy, the Baldwin, the Rhode Island Greening, 

 and the like, will very soon require at least 40 feet between trees. 

 If the spacing is found to be insufficient, some of the trees will 

 have to be removed. It is best to follow some definite or regular 



