400 THE APPLE 



While better results may usually be obtained from the tilled 

 orchard, it is also possible to produce satisfactory results from some 

 systems of sod treatment, and those orchards that cannot be con- 

 veniently cultivated may be made highly remunerative by liberal 

 feeding and mulching. In such cases the feeding should be such 

 as will produce a strong growth of herbage, which when cut will 

 form an effective mulch and thus prevent the loss of moisture. The 

 liberal application of stable manure, supplemented with muriate of 

 potash and acid phosphate, would be a good start toward bringing 

 a neglected orchard into a thrifty condition under sod treatment. 



Spraying. Spraying is absolutely necessary for success. Where 

 the San Jose scale is present or diseases are common, winter spray- 

 ing should be given. Lime-sulphur or miscible oils should be used, 

 according to the complete directions given in Chapter XX. It is 

 a decided advantage to have the trees scraped and pruned before 

 spraying. It saves labor, material, and makes better work possible. 

 Thoroughness is the all-important watchword. 



The summer spray should follow the winter work. The system 

 spoken of in Chapter XX should be followed carefully. In the 

 neglected orchard spraying will be less effectual the first season, 

 the reason being that the trees are so thoroughly infested with 

 various kinds of diseases and insects that one season's work 

 cannot remedy them all. More careful and persistent work is 

 therefore necessary. 



Grafting. Probably in most orchards to be renovated there are 

 trees of the variety which is of questionable value. If these trees 

 are desirable in other respects they can be top-grafted to market- 

 able sorts. Occasionally it is advantageous to top-graft some trees 

 to insure proper pollination, this being especially true when there 

 are solid blocks of sterile varieties or weak fertile varieties. 



Cleft-grafting is the most common method, although some 

 growers practice whip-grafting. The process of grafting is de- 

 scribed in Chapter XXXII. 



When to graft. Top-grafting is always done during the dormant 

 season. The work may be commenced just before the buds swell 

 in the spring and continue, if necessary, for four or five weeks. If 

 the season must be prolonged, it is better to begin earlier rather 

 than to continue later than the time mentioned. 



