100 ORCHARDS. 



first appear, or tliey may be easily broken off while young 

 and brittle, cutting is apt to increase their number. 



In a healthy, well-shaped tree, pruning is considered" ivorse 

 than useless^'" except the keeping down of a few water sprouts 

 and suckers at the roots. It should be recollected that the 

 free growth of a tree somewhat corresponds with, and is de- 

 pendent on the action of the leaves and limbs ; that if these 

 are properly distributed and in due proportion, perfect health 

 is secured, and the use of the knife is but little required. 



The best time for pruning to favor luxuriant growth^ accord- 

 ing to the theory generally received by orchardists, is in the 

 Fall season, just after the fall of the leaf. Winter is next 

 best, performed in the mildest of the weather, and, in orchard 

 pruning, this is the most convenient season. There are favor- 

 able and unfavorable times appertaining to all seasons for 

 pruning fruit trees. One of the best American authors, whose 

 authority is undisputed, remarks, ''^ that for pruning in the 

 Northern and Middle states^ a fortnight before mid-Summer 

 is by far the best season, on the whole, for pruning''. We see 

 no good reason why it should not be in the Southern or Wes- 

 tern states. The same author continues : " Wounds made at 

 this season heal over freely and rapidly; it is also the most favor- 

 able time to judge of the shape and balance of the head, and 

 to see at a glance which branches require removal; and all 

 the stock of organizable matter in the tree is directed to the 

 branches that remain." 



When it is necessary to separate large limbs, the saw 

 should be used ; one that is open, with fine teeth, and in good 

 order is best. If the branches are not very large, what is 

 called by carpenters a " tennon saw,'' is much more conven- 

 ient and less liable to injure the bark. 



For small limbs, viz : those from one inch and less in diam- 

 eter, a pruning chisel is used, and is the most convenient im- 

 plement. It is a socket chisel, blade about eight inches long, 



