Specifications for Successful Fruit-Growing 1721 



heading-ill at some time in their history. But in our climate this 

 form of prnning is practiced only with peaches and some plnms, 

 and is but little needed with other fruits. In winter pruning, the 

 cutting back of exceedingly long branches for the thickening of 

 the top of occasional trees or varieties is the exception rather than 

 the rule. Peaches and some plums bear fruit on the wood of the 

 past season. The crop is borne progressively away from the trunk. 

 It is necessary to head in these fruits to keep the bearing wood 

 near the trunk. Apples, pears, most plums, and cherries are borne 

 on spurs from wood two or more years old, and, therefore, with 

 these heading-in is not a regular practice. 



SUCKERS 



When a tree is severely pruned a growth of long, vertical shoots 

 with few leaves often follows — • suckers or water sprouts. Since 

 the sparseness of foliage prevents the shoots from elaborating food 

 they appropriate it from the parts upon which they grow. Suck- 

 ers are, therefore, parasites, and should be removed whenever and 

 wherever found. Occasionally they may be used in the develop- 

 ment of normal branches, though their value for this purpose is 

 small. 



THE CUT 



The cut in pruning should always be made parallel with the 

 trunk, as close as possible, and just beyond a healthy lateral 

 branch. The reason for so cutting is plain. The lateral branch 

 is stimulated to produce a great number of leaves which assimilate 

 sap. This elaborated food passes back through the inner bark 

 near the newly made cut and the wound quickly calluses and heals 

 because it thus has access to an abundant supply of food. 



Wounds over three inches in diameter seldom heal ; decay sets 

 in and there soon follow rotten wood, a hollow branch and a dis- 

 eased tree. The life of a tree is endangered whenever a large 

 branch is removed, and such an amputation should be made only 

 under dire necessity. One of the secrets of the healing of large 

 wounds is to cut close to the trunk, and no matter how large a 

 wound may be it is better than leaving a projecting stub. The 

 chances for healing with a large wound are materially increased 



