64 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Northern Spy into bearing much more quickly. If the tree is 

 pruned each year you will keep it growing for twenty years 

 before you get much fruit. Let it fill right out with branches 

 and wood and in a short time the tree will begin to push out 

 fruit spurs, fruit buds will develop, and in a few years you 

 will get a good bearing Northern Spy tree. 



Dr. Twitchell: Here is a three-year-old tree, and we 

 would like to have Mr. Powell shape the top of it. 



Mr. Powell: That is a rather hard one to prune. Here 

 are two crotches, — practically three — right together. It is 

 bound to be a bad tree if left as it is, and it is a very difficult 

 tree to get into shape. By taking out two branches I will get 

 rid of two crotches, and then it can be built out in any system 

 you want. 



Ques. Do you prune just before setting in the ground or 

 immediately afterwards? 



Ans. It depends on circumstances. If we have time enough 

 we prune before we put them out. If we haven't we set the 

 trees and prune them afterwards. 



Ques. After they are set out, would you prune any of the 

 growth for four or five years? 



Ans. For five years at least I would do no pruning on those 

 trees except to slip out a branch that is going in the wrong 

 direction : simply keep the form which I have started. Let the 

 tree fill right up with wood and when it gets to be seven years 

 of age, cutting with the Diston saw, begin to take out over- 

 growth here and there. You have got the tree bearing and 

 then is the time to take out your surplus wood, but if you 

 begin now you will keep the tree growing and not bearing fruit. 



