836 



Winter Washing of Fruit Trees. [Jan., 



the first five or six years after planting, it will require very 

 little attention in that respect later. It should be gone over 

 each year, all surplus wood being thinned out, and inter- 

 lacing or diseased branches cut away. Non-observance of 

 this practice will result eventually in the development of a 

 head of densely tangled and diseased branches, examples of 

 which are to be found in nearly all old orchards. The extent 

 to which this condition may be remedied by careful pruning 

 depends very largely upon the individual trees. If, foi 

 example, a tree is very old, the amount of wood which ought 

 to be cut out is generally so great that its removal seriously 

 weakens the tree, and may even kill it. In dealing with old 

 trees it is necessary that the greatest care should be taken 

 not to remove too much wood at one time. It is better to 

 spread the operation over two or even three seasons than to 

 cripple the trees by too severe pruning. 



With many full-grown trees the requisite thinning-out of 

 the wood cannot be accomplished except by the removal of 

 many of the larger branches, with the result that a very large 

 portion of the head, and especially of the fruiting wood, is 

 lost. • When pruning is being done, therefore, these facts 

 should not be overlooked. As much surplus wood and inter- 

 lacing and diseased branches as can be spared should be cut 

 out, and particular attention should be given to thinning in 

 such a manner that the fruiting wood is freely exposed to air 

 and sunlight. Extra time spent in removing dead and 

 diseased twigs will be profitably occupied, for it is on such 

 parts that some of the most serious fungus pests, such as the 

 brown rot and apple scab fungi, pass the winter stages of 

 their life history, and in the following spring break out into 

 active growth and produce another epidemic of infection. 



All prunings should be burnt immediately, in order to 

 destroy insect and fungus pests ; the ashes should be distri- 

 buted over the soil as manure. 



Re grafting. — In cases where trees of existing varieties 

 prove to be unsatisfactory, they may often with advantage 

 be headed back and grafted with more suitable sorts. Dessert 

 varieties which may be recommended for propagation under 

 such circumstances are Worcester Pearmain, Duchess of 

 Oldenburgh, Cox's Orange Pippin, and Allington Pippin, 



