Milford chronicle., 1915-03-12
MARCH PLANS IN THE
OLD APPLE ORCHARD

There are two types of old orchard that
need treatment and regeneration, the or
chard that is old in age and the one that
is old in condition. Anyone who has
travelled the roads of Sussex County must
have seen both kinds. The latter is more
apt to be found on poor sandy soil, where
the trees have had a constant struggle for
moisture and plant food. On the heavier
soils of this and other States, trees will to
some extent take care of themselves, and
will reach an old age and large size ifin
sects and diseases do not reach them. AS
trees grow older they usually become less
resistant to disease, old wounds begin to
appear, the top becomes either thin from
loss of branches or too dense when no
pruning is done, and the amount and
quality of the fruit declines greatly. The
orchard that is old in condition also suffers
more from insects and diseases, and altho
the fruit may be finely colored and some
times plentiful in its distribution on the
tree, the actual yield per acre is apt to be
far below the average because of vacant
space in the orchard or small size of trees
and broken limbs.
In general one does not see so MANY
overgrown trees'in this countyas he will |
find where soils are richer. The tall trees
whose first branches are twenty feet from |
the ground are few. When such trees
are found, however, an effort should be
made by heading in the upper branches
and encouraging the lower ones to bring
the top within picking and spraying dis
tance of the ground. Many orchards are
too thickly set with branches, and the
surplus can be cut out during winter. 1t
is a mistake to cut away too many of the
lower branches, unless they are in the
way OF culivating tools, because when
this practice is continued the top of the
tree gradually becomes higher and higher
above the ground, until at last the owner
has a tree said to be 'co-tailp pruned.
having a long trunk and a tuft of foliage
1t the top. 1t is equally a mistake to cut T.
0ut too many limbs in the center of the
rec, because this merely encourages a
growth of watersprouts that sap the ,
strength of the tree. There should be
iome shade over the trunks of the larger
limbs.
On many old trees one will find heavy
srowth of lichens, or moss, " or at least
heavy growth of scales. These in them I
elves are not injurious, but are to be
voided because they shelter insects and
prevent sprays from reaching all parts of
he bark. 1t is not hard to find at this
lme of year the pupae of the codling
moth, the insect that causes worminess Of
pples, wintering under the bark, and I
7hen the bark is scraped with a noe or I
ther tool many of these will be DESTROY
d. The lower parts of mossy and scaley P
rees should be scraped during winter.
Cavities in the trunks can be cleaned
ut and filed. There is much difference s
t opinion as to the profitableness of this II
ractice. 1t seems unlikely that it will
ay in a county where much fruit is being Y
rowu on younger trees, unless the old ,
-ees are needed for shade or other special Il
urpose. Care can be taken, however.
pruning other trees, to make the cuts o!
! such way that the wounds will heal q
1ickly, and to paint cut surfaces over
70 inches in diameter. C
The tree that is old in condition. if il b
pes not suffer from insects or disease on ei
'p or root, probably needs more food in III
lie soil or more moisture around its roots.
good dressing of manure will help sup q
y the food, and plans should be made OF
intercrop with clover. peas or beans to IN
. turned under, if the trees are not 50
ose together as to shade the spaces be- at
7een the rows. In some cases orchards nj
i've been ruined by cropping vacant ca
aces too long after the trees were set
It. This may especially be the case on Gu
'or sandy ground, where there is not ne
ough moisture and food for two crops 10
the same time. The obvious remedy nv
to use the extra space only for crops
at are to be returned to the soil. When ac
e soil is apt to be very dry during the ba
owing season, .thrre is doubt if the or :,
ard will ever be profitable. MANY an pm
orchard on poor soil would show i'm Gs
sdiate effects from the use of moderate ev
lounts of nitrate of soda. SC
COUNTY AGENT.