No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 239 



ward sweep you rub off all the buds below. This leaves five buds 

 to form the new top. These limbs receiving all the nourishment they 

 can use make rapid growth and must be carefully watched as they 

 may become top-heavy; if such is the case pinch off above the out- 

 side bud. This checks the rapid upward growth aud makes the limb 

 more sturdy. By this method you will have no forks. The terminal 

 bud grows as a leader and the four lower buds form four limbs all 

 growing out in regular order and no one quite opposite another, with 

 an outward, upward tendency to each limb, having at its base a ring 

 or collar formed which strengthens it to such extent that, though in 

 future, when ladened with fruit, it may bend to the ground; it cannot 

 split from the trunk. Very little more pruning is necessary during 

 the first season. Early in spring of second season, cut back fully 

 one-half, or better, two-thirds of last season's growth, except leader, 

 which should not be cut back quite so hard unless you desire a very 

 low spreading top. This pruning again gives the limbs an outward 

 upward curve thus spreading and forming an open head, giving that 

 beautiful, symmetrical form combining beauty and strength. If 

 through any mishap, carelessness or otherwise, one of these limbs 

 should be broken, leaving one side with a large gap, this may be rem- 

 edied, instead of cutting above an outside bud, you cut above a 

 side bud facing the gap. Then as the new growth curves toward each 

 other the gap is soon closed. You may perhaps have a few crooked 

 trees (some varieties are naturally crooked growers). This can be 

 easily remedied with that wonderful implement, the horticulturist's 

 standby, the pruning knife. I do not mean a large cumbersome 

 hooked knife. I never owned one. I mean an ordinary strong, 

 sharp, pocket-knife; with such I can cut off a limb one inch or more 

 in diameter with one smooth, clean cut. It is all in knowing how. 

 Grasp the limb with one hand, spring it upward and follow with the 

 knife giving it a good strong pressure and you will be surprised how 

 easily it is done. Now as to your crooked tree. With the knife^ 

 make two or three perpendicular incisions in the concave portion 

 of the tree the full length of the crook. Nature in her efforts to heal 

 the wound throws out granulations; this part grows faster, fills up 

 the hollow space, acting as a brace, and in two or three years the tree 

 will be straight. 



Fourth year. Perhaps by this time your trees may be too spread- 

 ing. If so, prune to an outside bud, thus throwing your new growth 

 upward and inw^ard. It is presumed that you have cut out all un- 

 necessary growth, and where two limbs cross one must be removed. 

 But good judgment must be used to remove the right one, or later 

 you must remove the other one and this may leave a large, open 

 space making an unsightly gap and exposing the large limbs to sun- 

 scald. If at anytime you must remove a large limb, better paint 



