442 



REPORT OF STATE BOARD OP HORTICULTURE. 



turbed root system. To overcome this difficulty is one of the primary objects 

 of trimming-, but where this is the only motive, the operation would fall 

 quite as naturally under the category of pruning as of trimming. The 

 height of the head, as well as the number of main branches, of the future 

 tree is determined by trimming at planting time. An apple tree, as it came 

 from the nursery, is shown at Fig. XXXI. The root system is ample, but 

 somewhat deformed ; the branches are of moderate growth, but too much 

 like whips in character, and there are more of them than we desire the tree 

 to bear in the orchard. As shown in Fig. XXXII, the defoi'med portion of 

 the root system has been cut away, and superfluous branches removed; the 

 three retained, shortened to about eight or ten inches in length. 



The branches retained to form the head, it will be noticed, are distributed 

 equi-distant about the trunk, and at difl'erent heights upon it. A line drawn 

 through the ends of these branches would describe a circle, and the points 

 where the branches touch the circle would divide the arc into three nearly 

 equal segments. 



The novice may think three to be far too few branches, but it will be 

 found amply sufficient, if growth during later years is properly directed. 

 How shall the cut be made in removing these branches? 

 This is a much more pertinent question than at what season shall the cut 

 be made, although in removing large branches from old trees, the season 

 becomes a much more important consideration. Cut as close to the point of 

 origin as possible. Do not leave a stub, as it will die back, decay will 

 follow, and injury may be done to the heart- wood which will result in pre- 

 mature death to the tree. Fig. XXXIII shows the attachment of a branch 

 to its parent branch. The enlargement which braces and strengthens it is 



very noticeable. Besides the function of giving 

 greater strength to the angle of the branch, it 

 is found that if the cut in removing the bi'anch 

 is made through this enlargement, decay sel- 

 dom follows, while the wound quickly heals. 

 If, however, the cut is made one or more inches 

 from this enlargement decay is sure to follow 

 and the rottening heart-wood of the dead branch 

 carries its injuries past the enlargement at the 

 base of the branch on the heart-wood of the 

 parent. This opens a suitable entrance for des- 

 tructive insects, as well as invites birds that 

 nest in such hollows. The result of all this is that the decay which was 

 originally set up by a careless tree pruner is being aggravated constantly by 

 these outside agents, and the period of usefulness of the tree lessened. 

 Small wounds heal more readily than large ones. 

 Never remove large limbs unless it is necessary. 



Prune while the cut can be made with the pruning knife, and the injuri- 

 ous results of rot and insect depredations can be avoided. 



Fis. XXXIII. 



