♦12 



The Bulletin 



A two-year-old apple tree is pruned by cutting out the central growth 

 and cutting back the side branches to a length of twelve to fourteen 

 inches. If the variety is of the upright, compact, growing nature, the 

 side branches should be pruned to an outside bud to correct the com- 

 pact habit of growth and induce the branches to spread. If the vari- 

 ety is of the scraggly and drooping kind, the form can be somewhat 

 corrected by pruning to an inside bud. (See Fig. 8). Prune off all 

 unnecessary growth produced on the main stem except four or five 

 branches intended for the head of the tree. 



Pruning a Three- Year-Old Tree. 



The growth on a three-year-old apple tree is all length growth, so 

 that the pruning will be much like that of the two-year-old tree. Cut 

 out all water sprouts on the main stem and side branches. Leave only 

 two or three branches on each main side branch and cut back the 

 length growth from one-third to one-half. (See Fig. 9.) 



Fio. y. — Tlirc'c-yeur old apple tree. Cut out centriil leader and inside inlerferiiiK brandies. 

 Prune length growth to 12 or 14 inchcB, leavine an outside bud at the end of pruned twig. 

 I>oltod linos indirate where pruning Bhould be done. 



Pkunino the Four-Ye.\r-Old Tree. 



A four-year-old apple tree will make two kinds of growth, length 

 growth from the ends of the pruned branches and lateral growth in 

 the form of short spurs at the ba.se of the previous sejuson's growth. 

 Those spurs will later develop into fruit spurs. If the young trees 



