New YorK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT -STATION. 397 
have too little bearing surface below, to make the treatment practi- 
cable. It is not an infrequent occurrence that the lower limbs 
thickly interlace, and for want of sufficient light yield only medi- 
ocre fruit. To spray an orchard in this condition satisfactorily is 
almost impossible and is generally unprofitable. Such an orchard 
should be carefully thinned out by removal of some of the trees, 
pruned, and well cared for in other respects, to facilitate spraying 
operations and to promote a more symmetrical growth and greater 
fruitfulness. In many communities there are old apple orchards 
which have been rejuvenated by these means and which serve as 
models for such work. 
In Niagara County, the topmost branches are often “ headed in” 
from four to ten feet to a good lateral, to reduce the height of the 
trees, and thus permit of more thorough applications of the spraying 
mixtures. When the pruning and treatment of wounds have been 
carefully done, the results have been satisfactory. But much harm 
has been done by indiscriminate slashing of the trees and by neg- 
lect to paint wounded surfaces. Disease and decay have invariably 
destroyed the tips of the stubbed branches and have weakened the 
principal lateral, which is oftentimes killed or broken off by the 
wind. If the scale is being satisfactorily held in check, the or- 
chardist should avoid “ heading in” because of the loss of bearing 
surface and the danger of diseases becoming established in the 
wounds. 
