Specifications foe Successful Fruit-Growing 1719 



pruning for wood 



For several years after planting, the peach alone excepted, fruit 

 trees need to be pruned only to train the tree. Just how much to 

 prune young trees depends upon the fruit, the variety, the soil and 

 the climate. Fruit-growers usually prune trees too much, thereby 

 increasing the growth of wood and delaying the fruiting of the 

 plant. If trees were originally well selected, all that is needed is 

 to remove an occasional branch which starts out in the wrong place 

 — the sooner done the better — and to take out dead, injured or 

 crossed limbs. The peach, some plums and some pears may need 

 heading-in, and a weak or sickly tree may require somewhat more 

 severe pruning. 



If a tree is bearing many small fruits, if the top contains dead 

 or dying branches, or if the seasonal growth is short and scant, it 

 may be taken for granted that the tree lacks vigor ; or, in old trees, 

 is passing into decrepitude. Such trees may usually be rejuve- 

 nated by judicious pruning. In professional terms the tree must 

 be " pruned for wood." Such pruning consists in cutting back a 

 considerable number of branches and in wholly removing others. 

 In pruning for wood the following rules are usually applicable : 



Weak-growing varieties may always be pruned generously; 

 strong-growing kinds, lightly. 



Varieties which branch freely need little pruning. Those hav- 

 ing unbranching limbs should be pruned closely. 



In cool, damp climates trees run to wood and need little prun- 

 ing. In hot, dry climates they need much pruning. 



Rich, deep soils favor growth ; prune trees in such soils lightly. 

 In shallow, sandy soils, trees produce short shoots, and the wood 

 should be closely cut. 



PRUNING FOR FRUIT 



A barren tree can sometimes be made to bear fruit by proper 

 pruning. !Not infrequently barrenness is caused by over-manur- 

 ing or over-stimulation of some kind, because of which the num- 

 ber of shoots and leaves are greatly increased, but flower buds do 

 not form. This over-production of wood and leaf can sometimes 

 be stopped by breaking or cutting off the greater portion of the 

 season's growth in the summer. Summer pruning is a weaken- 

 ing process and in this climate may greatly decrease the vigor of 



