Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-21
Orchard Renovation.

\
tE- +. Hitchings, associate Professor Of Hort
culture. at Farmers Week, Orono.)
The subject of orchard renovation is
getting to be little threadbare for the
reason that for number OF years past,
this topic has been constantly before the
fruit growers of the state. Experiment
Stations, Agricultural Departments, and
the Federal Government have contribut'
ed their quota of bulletins on the sub
ject. The press, public speakers, and
college Instructors have all added their
mite to the general fund of information
ON this subject. In spite of all this
knowledge, large percent OF our Or
chards still remain neglected.
Work of Renovation. The following
steps should be taken in order to secure
best results.
Remove Extra Trees. The trees in
most orchards are too crowded. The
best remedy for this is to 60 through the
orchard and mark the trees that need to
be cut out, leaving those that will give
the best results in later years.
Prune. Cut out all dead wood.
Large branches should be removed with
care, 40 as not to injure other portions
of the tree. All diseased parts should
be cleaned up and treated with solu-
tion of copper sulphate (wo ounces to
one gallon of water.) All material re-
moved from the trees should be gather
ed up aud burned This is imperative for
insect and fungus control)
Remove Moss and Dead Bark. Pro-
cure a steel wire brush, fused by found
rymen in cleaning castings) and remove
all accumulations of moss and rough
bark. This is best done on damp day
10 the spring when the tree trunks are
wet A good scrsper may be made by
removing the temper from a moving
machine section, drill hole in the cen
ter and fssten it by means of screw, to
a short handle.
Heading Down. On account OF the
previously crowded condition of the
trees, they are so tall as to be unmanage-
able. The tops should be severely cut
back. 10 place of a six-story sky-scrap-
or, they should be reduced to low
spreading bungalow type. A feeder Tor
sap circulation, should be left just be-
low the cut and the wound should be
treated with copper solution, and paint
paint. Cavities should be cleaned out,
treated, and filed with Portland cement.
Weak or split crotches should be bolted.
Spraying. The trees are now ready to
spray. This should be done some time
in April. With pump Of at least 100
pounds pressure, spray thoroughly with
the dormant strength of lime and sui
phur solution, going over the entire
tree, twigs, limbs, and trunk. This acts
as rejuvenator, cleaning up disease
germs, and different stages Of insect life.
Cultivation or Mulching. As a rule,
orchard soil is greatly impoverished
from years Of neglect and must have
some trea meut to restore lost vitality.
This may be accomplished either by cul-
tivation or mulching, IL the orchard is
so located that it cannot be plowed, the
next best would be the use of the cut-a'
way harrow. II this cannot DO done,
system of mulching may be employed.
Fertilization. Cultivation and mulch
ing will accomplish much, but for best
results some kind of sfertilizer must be
used. This is best secured by the use of
barn manure. This will produce wood
growth and should be followed by chem
zeal fertilizers for fruit production.