In the case of a neglected orchard the main plant food to give is nitrogen. Of course, it helps greatly if the soil is cultivated shallowly so that the weeds and rough grass that are growing can be worked into the top 2 or 3 inches. I found a Howard-Clifford Rotary Cultivator excellent for this purpose with the tines set quite shallowly.
Far too often a lateral which started its life on one side of the tree and, because there was little light and air at that point, pushed its way through a mass of other branches seeking sunshine, has eventually ended up on the other side. When that happens more than once these branches have a kind of umbrella effect and so keep out the light; which results in many spurs dying below.
Castor bean meal has been used at 5 cwt. to the acre and so has fish guano compound at 4 cwt. to the acre. Any of these organic nitrogenous plant foods should be used preferably in January, so that the nitrogen would be available during the season.
Following the rotivation, the grower will aim to give clean cultivation during the summer, as close to the trunk of each tree as is possible. In large areas this can be done with a Ransornes M.G.6 pulling a disk cultivator and in small home orch.ards it is just a question of hoeing. It is equally true to say a light forking in will have to be done in the small orchard instead of the work by the Clifford Rotary Cultivator.
There has been many a broken leg during the renovation of an orchard because the rungs of the ladder have given way. Many pruners like bow saws instead of the ordinary carpenter's saws and even with the latter, sharp U-teeth are more desirable rather than the narrower V-shaped ones.
In the case of grass orchards, there must be free passage for the Haytor or mowers. The grower, however, will do, say, 50 per cent of the work the first year and finish the job off the following season, or, in very bad cases of neglect, the author has known it necessary to carry out only a third of the work in season No. 1 and so not to have the pruning completed until the third year. - 15266
Far too often a lateral which started its life on one side of the tree and, because there was little light and air at that point, pushed its way through a mass of other branches seeking sunshine, has eventually ended up on the other side. When that happens more than once these branches have a kind of umbrella effect and so keep out the light; which results in many spurs dying below.
Castor bean meal has been used at 5 cwt. to the acre and so has fish guano compound at 4 cwt. to the acre. Any of these organic nitrogenous plant foods should be used preferably in January, so that the nitrogen would be available during the season.
Following the rotivation, the grower will aim to give clean cultivation during the summer, as close to the trunk of each tree as is possible. In large areas this can be done with a Ransornes M.G.6 pulling a disk cultivator and in small home orch.ards it is just a question of hoeing. It is equally true to say a light forking in will have to be done in the small orchard instead of the work by the Clifford Rotary Cultivator.
There has been many a broken leg during the renovation of an orchard because the rungs of the ladder have given way. Many pruners like bow saws instead of the ordinary carpenter's saws and even with the latter, sharp U-teeth are more desirable rather than the narrower V-shaped ones.
In the case of grass orchards, there must be free passage for the Haytor or mowers. The grower, however, will do, say, 50 per cent of the work the first year and finish the job off the following season, or, in very bad cases of neglect, the author has known it necessary to carry out only a third of the work in season No. 1 and so not to have the pruning completed until the third year. - 15266
About the Author:
Most soils are of a pH suitable for growing garden fruit trees; to get optimum growing conditions, extremely acid or alkaline soils can be adjusted by adding limestone or sulfur.
