Neglected Orchards 285 



bear. In fact, the effect of heavy pruning is likely to be 

 the very opposite of fruit-bearing; but it must be done in 

 most old orchards to bring the trees back into manageable 

 shape, to produce new and fresh wood for fruit-bearing, 

 and to thin the top sufficiently to allow the fruit to 

 develop to something like perfection of size and quality. 

 Weak trees may sometimes be re-invigorated by this 

 heavy pruning alone. Severe heading-in of decrepit peach 

 trees often accomphshes this. Tall long-armed apple 

 trees may sometimes be 

 headed -back severely 

 for the purpose of estab- 

 lishing a new top, if 

 the trees still retain 

 much vigor. When the 

 new wood is once 

 formed and the tree has 

 re-established its equi- 



li b r i U m, fruit-bearing p^a. 104. The same' tree as Fi^lOS, after the 



may be expected to fetpruBing. 



begin, if soil is good and other conditions are right. 



It will next be necessary -to begin hunting for borers 

 and other squatters and campers. The trees will very 

 likely need to be thoroughly sprayed to dislodge the 

 army of hangers-on that has held undisputed possession 

 of the territory perhaps for a score of years. Cut out dis- 

 eased spots, fill the holes with wax or cement, remove dis- 

 eased limbs, take off the shaggy hanging bark. In other 

 words, it may be necessary to give the trees a general 

 cleaning up. 



If the trees are of the wrong varieties and are still 

 vigorous, it will probably pay to top-graft them, as 

 already explained (page 279), if they are apples, pears, 



