1910.] Winter Washing of Fruit Trees. 837 



if the original trees are vigorous growers; and Ecklinville, 

 Newton Wonder, Warner King, and Bramley's Seedling 

 are suitable culinary kinds. There is some risk in regrafting, 

 since occasionally the operation results in the death of the 

 tree at once, the grafts failing to develop; while at other 

 times, after apparently satisfactory growth has followed for 

 two or three seasons, the tree may suddenly die. 



Replanting. — Although the planting of young trees in old 

 orchards is not a practice to be recommended if fresh land 

 can be obtained instead, growers are frequently obliged to 

 fill up gaps in old orchards. If the orchard concerned is 

 composed almost entirely of old trees, likely to die in the 

 course of a few years, the young trees planted to replace the 

 others, as the vacancies arise, should as far as possible be 

 placed so as to fall into proper positions relatively to the 

 remaining young trees, when the old trees have been entirely 

 replaced. Where gaps are to be filled in comparatively young 

 orchards there is not generally the same degree of choice, 

 since the existing trees may last for several years and the 

 available area for the selection of a site is therefore restricted 

 within narrow limits. In any case, however, it will be well 

 if each new tree can be planted in such a way that it will not 

 occupy the same spot as its predecessor ; and in such instances 

 the planting may be done in the usual manner. 



Where, however, the new tree must occupy the same 

 ground as the old, special preparation of the soil should be 

 attempted. The roots of the old tree should be first removed 

 as completely as possible so that no decaying wood be 

 left in the soil, and a circular hole, at least 6 feet in diameter 

 and from i\ to 2 J feet in depth, should be dug and left open 

 to atmospheric influences as long as possible before the tree 

 is planted. The soil may also be sweetened and freed from 

 insect and fungus pests by a dressing of quicklime. If 

 fresh soil can be substituted for that dug out, the newly- 

 planted tree will have a better opportunity to flourish. Should 

 the orchard happen to be on grass land it will be an aid to 

 the tree also if the grass be not allowed within three or four 

 feet of it for the first few years after planting. 



