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judicious thinning, will make practically a new tree out of 

 the old one. And one great reason why such old trees as we 

 are now considering (tall, overgrown ones) are not profitable 

 is that they are so tall that every operation — pruning, spray- 

 ing, picking, etc. — is four or five times as costly as with 

 lower trees. So it is absolutely essential to get them down 

 nearer the ground if they are ever to be made profitable. 



On the other hand, if the trees are reasonably low, the 

 pruning may consist largely in thinning the top throughout, 

 beginning, of course, with the dead branches, and then taking 

 enough live ones to leave the head fairly open to light and 

 air, and to the sprayer when that comes on the scene. Even 

 in this class of trees (those which are not unreasonably tall) 

 it is often possible to reduce their height to advantage, with- 

 out materially altering their form, by simply cutting back 

 each of the main, upright branches to one of its strong, main 

 offshoots. At the start the effect may not be just what we 

 should like, and the top may be thrown somewhat out of bal- 

 ance, but with a year's growth it will largely recover its 

 symmetry, and even if it should not altogether the advantages 

 of the lower top will offset any disadvantages. 



Another point in this latter type of pruning, and one often 

 neglected, is not to remove too large branches in the thinning. 

 Of course it is much easier to remove what one considers the 

 required amount of wood by taking out a few large branches, 

 but the results are much better if one will take comparatively 

 small branches (not above an inch, and preferably much 

 smaller, in diameter) and take more of them. This thins the 

 top uniformly, letting in light, air and spraying materials to 

 all parts equally; while the removal of a few large branches 

 leaves the top too open in some places and as thick as ever 

 in others. Still another point which one should bear in mind 

 in his pruning is to keep a sharp watch for diseased branches, 

 and take these out in preference to healthy ones. The Eiu-o- 

 pean and some other cankers are, in particular, liable to 

 be found in such an orchard, and may be largely held in 

 check by such pruning. And lastly, after the pruning has 

 been done, and the wounds made have had time to dry up and. 

 "check" somewhat, all wounds of an inch and a half or over 



