THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



397 



Fourth and Fifth Season Pruning. 



At the end of the third season a shapely head should be formed and 

 such a framework for the future tree developed, that pruning ought not 

 to be a difficult matter. Too often do we find orchardists neglecting the 

 work after this time. The first three seasons while the trees are small 

 the task is neither expensive nor difficult, but as they grow there is a 

 rapid increase of both expense and difficulty of pruning in general and 

 the tendency is to be rather careless afterward. It must be remembered, 

 however, that pruning for the best results must not be neglected for a 

 single season. Careful, annual pruning beginning the first season when 

 the trees are set and continued until they no longer bear crops will do 

 more toward making a success of the apple business than practically 

 everything else. Neglect for one or more seasons followed by very heavy 

 pruning as a result, is not conducive to regular bearing of the trees, 

 nor to successful apple culture. 



During the fourth and fifth seasons the trees will bear a little but 

 should not be allowed to overload themselves. The orchardist should 



Fig. 104. — Five year old Jonnthan trees in orchard of Jas. McCann, Ceaumuiit, 

 whicli have been well piuned hack, an'l are very thrilty trees, for this variety, 

 developed. (Original.) 



still devote his energies toward growing trees and not fruit. All inter- 

 fering branches should be removed. The balance of the head should be 

 preserved and at least a moderate amount of cutting back of branches 

 should be done. Fig. 10-1 shows a splendid type of Jonathan tree, five 

 3'-ears old, which has been well pruned back each season. Care in cutting 

 to outside buds during the cutting back process will have a tendency to 

 spread the trees if such is desirable, or the reverse operation may be 

 found necessary. Fruit spurs will have developed by the fifth season 

 and care should be exercised to preserve these on the trunks and larger 

 limbs where they are so often cut off by pruners. One of the mistakes 



