286 The Commercial Apple Industry 



tool, being careful not to injure the tender inner bark. 

 This scraping removes the hiding places for many orchard 

 pests. After scraping, some advise that the trunks should 

 be -whitewashed. Unquestionably such treatment would be 

 beneficial, although it it not recommended as necessary. 



In cutting large limbs, it is best to make two cuts, the 

 first about a foot above the last in order to prevent split- 

 ting or otherwise injuring the good wood below the final 

 cut. 



It is well to disinfect large wounds with copper sulfate 

 or corrosive sublimate, after which a coat of asphaltum tree 

 paint or white lead is advisable to protect the tree against 

 decay and from the ravages of insects and diseases. When 

 small limbs and twigs are being headed, one should cut to 

 a lateral growth, otherwise the remaining stub dies and 

 decay follows. 



The chances are that in old neglected orchards many 

 holes will be found in the trunks of the trees where limbs 

 have been broken or cut off in years gone by, where decay 

 has set in. Very often trees may be saved if the decayed 

 wood is thoroughly cleaned out. Occasionally such cavi- 

 ties are filled with cement, care being taken that all water 

 and wet wood is removed first. As a general rule, such 

 treatment is not practicable. 



Pruning. 



In shaping or pruning a tree after the dead wood has 

 been removed, a number of precautions should be borne in 

 mind. 



A common mistake in renovation is to sacrifice much of 

 the fruiting area by removal of a large part of the top 

 with a view to bringing the head closer to the ground. 



