MISTAKES IN ORCHARD MANAGEMENT. 
277 
many of his friends as possible to meet in his orchard, and see some of 
the trees done. The Instructor does one or two first, and then lets any of 
those present take the tools, which gives them a practical insight into 
the work, and they get hold of the principles of pruning, and, if they 
wish, can go home and put them in practice on their own trees. Some of 
the older farmers are rather conservative, and will not have their trees 
touched with a knife or saw. If the trees did for their fathers they 
should do for them, is their argument. We get some warm discussions 
at times when we do not see eye to eye, but it is in these discussions that 
Fig. 147. — A Sturdy 4-years-old ' Ecklinville.' 
many useful points are brought out. With the majority of younger men 
we are able to make more headway, as they know that good pruning is a 
great factor in producing the best fruit, which alone will pay for growing. 
Many of these men are taking to doing the pruning themselves, and find 
it interesting work. Thus they will get their neglected trees gradually 
into better condition ; but it takes a great deal of time, patience, and 
hard work. Why have the old orchards got into suCh-a state ? 1. Through 
sheer neglect or carelessness ; 2. The tenant or owner, as the case may 
be, could not do the pruning ; 3. He could not afford to have it done ; 
4. He could not get any one to do it who understood the work. Nowadays, 
G 2 
