396 
On the Cultivation of Orchards, and 
they will require but little attention, except that of keeping up 
the fences and taking care that they be not shaken by the wind. 
To guard against the latter, the tree should be well armed with 
a firm bandage of straw at the part where it rises above the top 
rail, and there confined between two cross-pieces, passing from 
one rail to the other, or else so firmly fixed by withe bands as 
effectually to prevent any rubbing, and consequent injury to the 
bark. 
The bearing capabilities of apple-trees of considerable age may 
be much improved by judicious pruning, in removing decayed 
branches and old unprofitable boughs, Avhere the head is much 
crowded. These should in all cases be taken off by a clean cut 
close to the branch from which they are separated, or at least to 
a lateral shoot, so that the part may heal over as soon as possible. 
By pursuing such a course of pruning, and by keeping the body 
of the tree only just sufficiently open to admit the sun to pene- 
trate, the weight of the fruit will be increased, and it will at the 
same time ripen more regularly. Mr. Knight recommends most 
attention to be paid to the lateral branches, which, if unchecked 
by occasional pruning, are apt to load the tree too much at the 
extremities. In damp situations trees are often covered with moss, 
and thievish mistletoe takes root in their branches, and robs them 
of their juices. These parasitical ornaments should be perse- 
veringly removed from the trees, though they are often suffered to 
grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength ; or, 
it might be more properly said, at the expense of their growth 
and strength. Sometimes trees, which at first were good bearers, 
become stag-headed and unfruitful. It is more than probable 
that this condition is owing to some defect in the soil. The pro- 
per remedy to be resorted to in this case is what is called heading- 
down — that is, removing all the branches to within a foot or two 
of the main forks or the stem of the tree, in order to encourage 
the formation of a healthy and vigorous head. This operation 
should be accompanied with a heavy dressing of compost, formed 
of lime, ashes, and earth, extending for a considerable distance 
round the tree, which should be dug in with the marled turf. If 
the land be wet, draining must be resorted to, as in that case 
other trees are no doubt suffering in some degree from the same 
cause. If the tree be infected with canker, the same treatment 
should be adopted ; but in this case there is but little hope of suc- 
cess, for, according to Knight, that disease is symptomatic of the 
declining age of the species, which no treatment can effectually 
cure, except in the case of trees which have been grafted in the 
head. Fresh grafting, if the stocks be young, will remedy the 
evil. In otherwise hopeless cases, such treatment of stunted trees 
is deserving of trial ; for, if it succeed, a large and full-bearing 
