MISTAKES IN OKCHARL MANAGEMENT. 
265 
tlie time it was worked. The one under notice was six years old when 
phmted (two or three years older than they should be) ; it will be at least 
eight years old before it can be re-grafted, as it is growing so badly, and 
we cannot say how old before it bears fruit. Fig. 129 is from a photograph 
taken in October 1900, where we see it has made no growth, but only a 
few leaves. If it had been cut back rather hard in the spring it would 
probably have made a little better growth ; it could not possibly have 
made less. Planting in a small hole, and in an orchard which may be any- 
where between fifty and one hundred years old, is not a good way to induce 
Fig. 133. — Thistles and Rubbish drawing the Goodness out of the Soil. 
healthy growth. A similar tree, at least eight years old, is shown in fig. 130. 
It was four years old when planted, and has never been cut back, and the 
only growth it has made in the four years since planting is about 9 inches 
on the tops of the branches, from the peculiar knobby swellings. It was 
regrafted with ' Ecklinville ' this year, and the grafts have taken well, but 
the tree will be at least ten years old before it fruits. 
A better system is shown in fig. 131. This is another young tree 
planted in an old orchard. We often hear it said, and see it written, that 
planting young trees in an old orchard is bad practice, and that instead of 
doing this an entirely new site should be formed, allowing the old trees to 
gradually die down. Just so. But there is not one tenant in fifty who 
