APPLE TREES.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 272, 29 May 1860, Page 3

APPLE TREES.

The following treatment of apple trees that have become unproductive is recommended. In order to ascertain the cause of unproductiveness, the condition of the soil and subsoil, as regards moisture, should be first examined. If too much moisture is suspected, test holes should be dug as deep as the roots descend. If water remain stagnant in these holes, it is an indication that drainage is required; and the beneficial effect of deep and thorough drainage on illthriving orchards has m a few years proved astonishing. . On the other hand, if the subsoil is found to be too dry, means should be adopted to render it completely moist. This should be done in March, and repeated during the summer, if found necessary. In order to

ensure the water reaching the subsoil, save* ral trenches about a foot wide should be dug out round the trees, and as deep as can be done without injuring the upper roots:" such trenches, forming circles round the tree, may be three feet apart; they should be filled with water, and- kept refilled till the subsoil is thoroughly moistened. If manure water can. be afforded so much the better.

If the subsoil is of bad quality and the tree too old for removal, the roots may be uncovered, and a layer of compost of dung and loam placed over them. In this young roots will form abundantly, to feed the tree with good nourishment.

If unproductiveness arises from the poverty of the soil, a plentiful application of manure is of course necessary. Farm-yard manure with a mixture of fresh loamy soil is better than manure only. When trees bee&me unproductive in con.sequence of old age and long bearing of heavy crops, the roots should be shortened and fresh soil introduced for young fibres to strike into; then the tops should be considerably reduced by thinning and shortening. The shortened branches will very likely push some vigorous shoots; let these shoots be cut back at the winter pruning to one-fourth of their length. From the portions left, more vigorous shoots will proceed, which may be shortened at the next winter pruning to half their length, and at the same time more of the old worn-out part of the top should be removed. And thus the tree will be renovated, so as to be again in condition to bear good corps.— 'Bath and West of England Journal.