388 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Summer Pruning. 



The winter pruning was now supplemented by summer work along 

 the same lines; that is, removing diseased twigs and tipping back to 

 develop a more sturdy growth where needed. The suckers which had 

 started to grow from the main branches were not removed (contrary to 

 the regular practice) but were headed back in order to develop fruit 

 spurs on these unproductive portions of the tree. It was easy to see that 

 the fruit bearing surface might be doubled by the proper treatment of 

 these suckers. 



Of course, the sucker growth cannot be so developed on trees which 

 have the dense tops produced ])y the old style of pruning, as there 



FiQ. 95, — Showing the development of fruit-spurs from suckers by the summer 

 pranmg- method. (Photo by Geo. P. Wekion.) 



would be too much shade for the production of fruit wood and fruit. 

 Indeed, it was only after the tops had been thinned out by our winter 

 pruning that the advisability of so developing the suckers became 

 apparent. 



Heading Back the Suckers. 



The proper heading back of suckers is a matter of con.siderable 

 importance, and the first cutting should be made not more than two or 

 three inches from the parent limb. Subsequent heading should keep 

 this growth down to five or six inches in length. Fcur or five summer 

 prunings may be required to properly restrict the suckers. 



