584 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



duced and of directiug the forces of future growth. During the earlier 

 years of the tree's existence, pruning is primarily a training process 

 in which the tree is assuming its future matured form which is deter- 

 mined by the combined forces of its inherited character of growth, its 

 environmental conditions and the direction in which its forces of growth 

 are led to take by pruniug. Since the natural habit of growth and the 

 forces of environment do not result in a form of tree that best meets 

 the economic conveniences of good orcliard practices or does not re- 



Fig. IV. Same tree as shown in 



AFTER PRUNING. 



Fig. 3. Outer branches have been thinned out and top 

 moderately reduced. 



suit in a form that is capable of producing maximum crops without 

 the breaking down of the branches, these objects must be sought by 

 pruning. While this function of pruning is relatively of greater im- 

 portance during its formative period, that is, before the tree comes into 

 bearing, it must be considered, nevertheless, even with mature trees. 



The greatest stimulative efl'ect of pruning on growth is in closest 

 proximity to the cut. Hence, in pruning wood of the past season's 

 growth, the bud left nearest the end generally produces the greatest 

 growth the following season. The groAvth of the lower buds is less as 

 the distance from the cut increases. As tlie direction of this bud largely 

 determines its direction of growth, the direction of the future branches 

 is greatly influenced by the direction of the buds left nearest the end. 



