EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



583 



pruning is too severe, it will reduce the supply of carbohydrates to such 

 a degree that all remaining will be utilized by the soil nutrients in 

 vegetative growth and hence no storage of this material which seems 

 necessary for fruitfulness can take place. 



While the severe pruning of trees that are not productive, due to a 

 limited supply of food material in the soil, may result in greater fruit- 

 fulness, it is a question if this is the wisest method of bringing about 



BEFORE rRUNING. 



Fig. III. A Spy tree before pruning showing an accumulation of numerous small branches 



over the outer portions forming a dense top. 



this desired change of condition since such pruning necessarily results 

 in decreasing the fruiting area of the tree. It is usually a better prac- 

 tice, even under such conditions, to prune lightly and to readjust this 

 balance of soil nutrients to carbohydrates by proper fertilization of the 

 soil and proper cultural practices. 



Having in mind the general etfects of pruning upon growth and fruit- 

 fulness which should form a basis for estimating the relative total 

 amount of pruning required in relation to these factors one is then 

 ready to consider the other aims and purposes of pruning practices that 

 determine more specifically just what parts should be removed. 



Pruning is largely a practice of adjusting the direction of growth pro- 



