THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



391 



Pruning When Set. 



Generally speaking a one year old whip is the best kind of apple tree 

 to set. Such should be cut back when planted (see Fig. 97), because of 

 the damage which has resulted to the root system in digging and the 

 consequent disturbance of the balance between root system and top. 

 The root hairs, the function of which is to take up the plant food in 

 solution from the soil, have been practically all destroyed and new 

 ones must be formed before the tree can be supplied by the roots. It is 

 consequently dependent in starting at first principally upon the stored 

 up plant food in the top and must grow for a short time, at least, almost 



Fig. 07. — One year old whip, the best kind 

 of apple trees to set. (Original.) 



independently of root action. This being the case, the less top that 

 there is the better chance will the root system have to make a rapid 

 recovery and renewal of root hairs. The height at which this one year 

 old tree should be left will depend upon the distance from the ground 

 that it is desired to make the head. The tendency uoav is to head trees 

 as low as possible and still not interfere with cultivation of the orchard. 

 The writer can see no good reason for heading apple trees more than 

 twenty inches above the surface of the ground. This gives enough 

 trunk for a beautiful, shapely tree and if later pruning is properly done 

 there will be no trouble about cultivation. As the first pruning may 

 largely determine the height of head a short discussion on the advan- 

 tages of a low headed tree will not be out of place here. 



In California as well as practically every place where apples are 

 grown there are times when the sun is very hot and sun-scald of the 

 bark may take place to the great detriment of the trees. Such injury 



