Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-26
Old Apple Orchards.
THEY MAY EASILY BE RENOVATED AMI
KEPT IN BEARING CONDITION..

In the older parts of the country
have noticed many neglected apple Or
chards, some of them growing in grass,
and some of them standing in fields an
nually turned by the plough for the use
of corn and other farm crops. The own
ers had evidently come to the conclusion
that the orchards had passed their time
of usefulness, and were thenceforth to be
neglected, with the idea that they would
in time disappear and leave the ground
free for other crops. The possibilities
in such orchards are lost sight of by
their owners. Orchards may be kept in
bearing almost from generation to gener-
alton, If they are taken care of. This
summer visited an apple orchard in
New England that was in full bearing
forty years ago, and from which have
many times picked the apples. 1t is still
thrifty, and produces as good crop as
it did forty years ago. Not tree has
disappeared.
1t is easy enough to keep an apple
orchard from showing its age if it is
taken care of from year to year. Where
an orchard has been neglected, the first
thing that should be done with it is to
give it a general renovation. Where
trees have disappeared, new trees should
be set out, and every tree of the old stock
should be examined to determine its
usefulness. Every tree that is badly
crippled should be cut out and a new
tree put in its place. Also, in these old
orchards there are many trees that are
bearing poor varieties of apples. These
should be top-grafted with the best
varieties. 1t is astonishing how some of
these old Seeding trees have been retain
ed in the orchards from generation to
generation. Some of the grated trees,
too, have been found to be top-worked
with varieties of no value, the fruit being
both small and sour and only fit to be
made into vinegar. They would not
even make good cider. There is no rea-
son why all of these poor trees should
not have been regrafted years ago and
have been producing good fruit since.
As man has in his hands this power OF
grating, why should even our old or
chards be allowed to produce inferior
fruit? The scions from the most profit
able trees cost practically nothing, and
if the farmer has in his orchard tree
that comes up to his ideals the scions
will cost absolutely nothing.
The renovation of old orchards and
the planting of new trees must be modi-
fed a great deal by the locality. In
many parts of the western states the root
gall has gained an entrance into the or
chards and has infected the soil around
the old trees. If new trees are planted
in these places the gals will have form
ed before the tree is two years of age,
and will quickly destroy it. In case
of this kind, either the old orchard trees
should be abandoned altogether, or else
new trees should be planted midway
between the old rows, and the old trees
gradually worked out as the new trees
come into bearing.
Pruning and cultivation are two other
things that are absolutely necessary for
the renovation of the old orchard. In
looking at the old trees we find that they
are very largely overgrown with water
sprouts, which receive much Of the sub.
stance passing into the roots. The old
trees should be pruued severely, but not
all at one time. A little of the work
should be done each year, because prun-
ing is tax on the vitality of the tree
Cor. in Tribune Farmer.