EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



381 



spurs cannot be maintained. Thus the outer ends of the branches should be 

 considerably thinned to permit a free circulation of air, ample light to pro- 

 mote the development of fruit spurs and fruit, and more thorough spraying. 

 The common mistake is to pursue the easiest course and remove a few rather 

 large branches, but such a practice leaves holes and does not result in an even 

 thinning or an even groAvth. Again, too much large wood is removed, re- 

 sulting in a heavy vegetative growth near the base of the removed branches. 

 In thinning out the outer parts of the trees, less vegetative disturbance will 

 result if many small branches — seldom over an inch in diameter — are removed 

 in such a way as to leave the outer fruiting wood evenly distributed and still 

 open enough to permit the entrance of light and the circulation of air. This 

 type of work is best performed when the pruner climbs out near the ends of 



Figure 22. The pruning in this tree has been rather severe. Bearing capacity has been limited too 

 greatly and some parts of the scaffold limbs are so much exposed that sunscald may result. 



the main branches where he is able to work with a saw and pair of hand 

 shears. This requires time, but experience has proved that the extra labor 

 is repaid many times through better results. In case old trees are bearing 

 too many clustered, weak or inactive spurs, it is advisable to thin them to ad- 

 mit light, prevent overbearing of small fruit, and to stimulate the remaining 

 spurs. 



Lowering Tops of Trees — Fruit growers fully appreciate the inconvenience 

 of too high tops. Many are bringing them down so that they may be suc- 

 cessfully, as well as more economically, handled. There has been a certain 

 tendency, however, to determine the height to which the trees should be re- 

 duced and then remove large branches to accomplish this. The result is that 

 some parts of the tree which have been partially shaded are unduly exposed 



