204 



FRUIT TREES. 



RESTORATION 



OF 



BADLY-TEAINED AND AGED TEEES, 



Few trees are trained in the careful manner prescribed 

 in the foregoing pages. It is not, therefore, a matter 

 of surprise that a great number fail to be so productive 

 and profitable as probably would be the case if they 

 were properly trained. Are they then to be destroyed 

 and replaced by new ones ? No. In most cases they 

 may be restored by suitable operations, if not to perfect 

 symmetry, yet to as much regularity and fertility as 

 they are capable of. 



All fruit trees, however carefully managed, become 

 weak and comparatively barren when they have ex- 

 ceeded a certain age. Trees in this condition ought 

 not in all cases to be destroyed, for they may for the 

 most part be renovated. As profitable results may be 

 obtained by this means sooner than by planting a new 

 orchard, the subject is one of much importance. 



Restoration of Badly-Trained Trees. 



We shall treat standards and espaliers separately. 

 Standards, — The lower side branches of standard 

 trees intended for the pyramidal form are generally 



