4 o 4 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



has been planted, when the annual pruning may be reduced to 

 the removal of a few terminal inches of the twigs, which 

 generally consist of wood which has not ripened and would 

 probably give rise to feeble growth in the following year- 

 Combining these considerations with the general principle . 

 mentioned above, we should say that, after the first cutting back 

 of the tree, pruning should be restricted to such an amount as is 

 necessary for the formation of good sturdy head to the tree. 



What extent of pruning will be necessary to effect this will 

 vary very much with the nature of the particular tree. A 

 variety which is a strong grower and a shy bearer in its early 

 years will require very little pruning. The tree shown in fig. 3 

 is a variety of this sort (Bramley's Seedling). Although in this 

 particular instance no pruning whatever has been done, the tree 

 is fairly well formed and sturdy, being capable of carrying a 

 large crop of fruit : to a considerable extent it has pruned itself, 

 just as most forest trees do, branches originating and flourishing 

 only where they are wanted, that is, where there is enough light 

 and room for their free development. On the other hand, fig. 7 

 illustrates the result of not pruning a tree which is a less sturdy 

 grower (Stirling Castle) and bears heavy crops even when quite 

 young. The branches, as will be seen, are all bent out of shape 

 and when laden with fruit, much of this will be destroyed by 

 being on the ground or by being whipped off by the wind. 



Instances of the harm done by the absence of pruning when a 

 tree is young may be seen in nearly any farm orchard through- 

 out the country and even in the plantations of growers in most 

 of the fruit-growing districts. But examples of over-pruning 

 are, perhaps, not less frequent and are generally to be found in 

 private gardens, where the stunted trees throw out every year 

 small forests of thin twigs, which are as regularly removed 

 and only serve the purpose of feeding a bonfire. 



Pruning at different Times 



It is often held that pruning should be done in the autumn 

 and that injury or loss of sap is likely to occur if it is done in 

 very cold weather. Such views appear to be ill-founded. 

 Pruning has been done in all states of the weather at Woburn 

 and no injury has ever been noticed, even in the severest frost. 

 One of the plantations there— a mixed plantation of a quarter 



