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Chapter II. 

 KENOVATING OLD ORCHAEDS. 



F. C. SEAHS, PROFESSOR OF POMOLOGY, MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL 



COLLEGE. 



There are undoubtedly thousands of old apple trees in 

 Massachusetts, some in orchards and others scattered about 

 fields, which would pay good returns if they could be thor- 

 oughly "renovated" and thereafter be given proper treatment. 

 On the other hand, there are just as many, and probably 

 far more, which would be more profitable on the woodpile 

 than anywhere else. The first question, then, for one to 

 decide, if he owns such trees or orchards, is "Will it pay to 

 make the attempt to get them into a thrifty condition again?" 

 In the writer's opinion this depends on three conditions: (1) 

 the age and vigor of the trees; (2) the stand of trees in the 

 orchard; and (3) the varieties. To discuss each of these 

 briefly: — 



1. The Age and Vigor of the Trees. ■ — If the trees are vigorous, 

 with good trunks and main branches, unaffected with canker 

 or other injuries to the bark, it has been my experience that 

 they can be brought into a profitable condition even though 

 the tops are full of dead branches and they have been system- 

 atically neglected for years. This is supposing, of course, that 

 the other factors mentioned above are favorable. It is truly 

 surprising what can be done with an old orchard when it is 

 taken in hand and given modern, up-to-date treatment. On 

 the other hand, if the trunks or main branches are damaged 

 by canker, or have been injured by cold so that the bark 

 has fallen away in patches of any size, as very often happens, 

 or if the trunk and main branches are badly rotted out in the 

 center, then it is very doubtful if the orchard will pay for 

 renovating. It must be remembered that the trunk is the 



