THE CULTURE OF THE APPLE. 101 



stages of growth to maturity, pruning, to some extent and 

 for some purposes, is necessary. 



Pruning is one of the most important operations connected 

 with the management of trees : it is a surgical operation and 

 should be performed with care and judgment. The advice of 

 many is, prune " at any time or place. '" To this slovenly, in- 

 judicious and outrageous advice, we say wo, most emphatically 

 NO ; to prune intelligently requires a knowledge of the struct- 

 ure of the tree. 



The season of pruning is very important, as the true theory 

 is based on the condition of the sap. For the removal of 

 large limbs from the trees, the best time is just after the fall 

 of the leaves in November, for it is the proper time as regards 

 the science of life, health and action in the trees. There is 

 no thin sap, the very life-blood of the tree, to flow out now, 

 but the coursing sap has been elaborated by the leaves during 

 July, August and September, and returned directly under 

 the bark to form alburnum or sap-wood, which annually in- 

 creases the diameter of the branches. The objects of prun- 

 ing arc threefold ; viz., form, vigor and fruitfulness. 



First, the form. We consider the best shape for our npple- 

 trees is the "round head" or " umbrella" shape, not only for 

 symmetry, but for the free circulation of the air and light, 

 and the convenient gathering of the fruit ; this form also is 

 self-protecting, as it shades the trunk from the sun in summer 

 and breaks the wind in winter. Pruning for vigor : We should 

 ever remember that the leaves are the lungs of the tree, that 

 vitalize the sap ; and if the branches and roots are in due 

 ratio to each other, a loss of them must impair the vitality. In 

 removing side branches or suckers — they are rightly named, 

 as they suck the life-sap from the tree, and divert the sap 

 from its proper functions in promoting vigor and fruitfulness, 

 — we Sfive new vigor and stimulate the growth. Pruning to 

 induce fruitfulness is less understood and less practised than 

 the other two methods ; the principle is just the reverse of 

 that upon which we prune for vigor. It is the Banting sys- 

 tem applied to vegetation. A very fat animal is proverbially 

 a poor breeder ; so an overluxuriant tree is a poor bearer ; 

 we must check this wisely, or injury will follow ; ^^ pinching** 



