stomach and lungs of the plant. Each variety of fruit has its char- 

 acteristic liabit of growth so that it is inipracticaljle to endeavor to 

 shape all alike. The spreading habit of the Greening distinguishes 

 it from the upright Spy. It is important to so train the top that 

 its branches will be properly distributed. A tree whose main 

 branches diverge at or near the same point is likely to split under 

 stress of wind and load of fruit. These faults are to be corrected 

 by pruning in the nursery. This is the 

 business of the grower. The twigs' are 

 of relatively less importance ; some of 

 them become leading branches, others 

 die through lack of food and otliers sup- 

 port fruit spurs. As a rule it is not a 

 good plan to trim the branches to bare 

 poles. Have you ever seen a peach tree in 

 this condition i The principles of prun- 

 ing will be discussed in a later lesson. 



The leaves. Ilealthy leaves are es- 

 sential to vigoroxis growth. — Lesson 5 

 described the all-important operation of 

 manufacturing starch through the com- 

 bined agency of the sun's rays, the green 

 coloring matter of the leaf (chlorophyll) 

 and the living matter (protoplasm) of the 

 cell. Without starch production, tree 

 growth is not possible. Unless the leaves 

 are healthy, the formation of starch is 

 partial and incomplete. The leaves are 

 also the seat of the manufacture of the 

 niti'ogenous compounds used in building 

 up the plant. A leaf riddled by shot-hole 

 fungus or eaten by canker worm may be expected to do only half duty 

 in the way of manufacturing starch. Tlie fruit grower should then 

 bring his energy and intelligence to bear on the problem of securing 

 healthy leaves ; he should be able to recognize enemies and know how 

 to fight tl^iem. He should know that the tree produces two kinds of 



361 



8. — An apple tree in blossom 

 fed on the starch stored 

 in its fruit buds. 



