The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-04-21
Pruns the Old Apple
Orchard.
BY Professor o. X. White, Field
Agent In Horticulture. M. A. C.

THERE are in all parts of the state
| large numbers of old apple or
- chards that have been neglect
ed for years. In a large portion OF
them there has not been any effort
made to keep them in good, healthy,
productive condition by pruning, spray
| ing, cultivation and fertilizing. AS a
result the tops are usually full of
| dead or dying branches, crossing and
interlaciDg branches and water
sprouts. The foliage is unhealthy, and
the trees have either exhausted
themselves and refuse to bear or pro
duce crops that are poorly colored.
wormy, scabby and UNBEATABLE.
II has been demonstrated in many
parts Of the state that thsse orchards
can be redeemed and brought back
into condition in which they will pro
duce crops of fine saleable fruit. Many
cases could be cited where men have
made them produce net profit OF
from $500 to $500 per acre.
There are some orchards, however,
that are not worthy of good care be.
cause they are so situated that the
crop is often caught by late sprinc
frosts, the ground is poorly drained,
the varieties are not desirable, badly
mixed or the trees are too old, too
high or too badly infested with scale.
in such cases it would be far better
to cut the orchard down and devote
the land to some paying crop. If the
varieties are Spy Baldwin. GreeninS,
Canada Red, Jonathan, Hubbardston,
'irimes, Wagner, etc.-such are in
demand and readily disposed of-then
by all means clean up the orchard
and make it the most profitable part
OF the farm.
Not all the neglect can be overcome
IN one year. The first thing to do is
TO prune. The first years pruning
should be the removal of all dead or
dying branches and all limbs affected
with canker If branches cross Or in
terlace they should be thinned out. All
water sprouts should be cut out I'm.
less ii is desirable to leave a few to
train into new bearing limbs by cut
ting them back and training them to
grow downward Any parts of the
tree which cannot he reached by a
twenty-five foot ladder had better be
cut off, if possible just above a lat
teral branch and the cut made on a
will
This heading in" is necessary in
order that all parts of the trees may
be thoroughly sprayed and because 1t
is so expensive and difficult TO har.
vest the crop when il is up so high.
II this isn't done, usually the apples
are shaken off instead of being picked
carefully, causing them TO go as sec
onds or cider apples.
In cutting off the limbs great care
should be taken to use a sharp saw,
knife or shears and to cut off the limbs
short and smooth. Generally it is I'M
wise to cut off large limbs. but If it
becomes necessary, cut up from the
under side first and then down to meet
ii, to avoid the splitting down of the
branch when it is twothirds off. Any
wound that Is made by cutting off a
limb over one inch in diameter should
be painted with thick white lead to
keep out water and air and prevent
decay until the tree can heal il over.
The pruning should generally he
done in March or April, before growth
and spraying begin. This is usually
the least busy time of the year. and
then the trees have the whole season
to heal over the wounds. Excessive
pruning will result in a great growth
Of water sprouts and often lessen the
bearing ability Of the tree for some
time.
The only absolute rules which can
be given for trimming are:
/. Prune before spring farm work
begins.
2. Remove all dead and interlacing
limbs.
3. Make all cuts parallel with and as
close as possible to the limb from
which the branch is cut.
4. Paint all wounds over one inch in
diameter.