INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 255 



third to one-half, or shonkl the top not suit, trim the tree to a single stem 

 and cut otC at height where you want new top formed. I would recom- 

 mend not more than four to six branches on a tree, and each spring the 

 new growth should be trimmed out not less than one-fourth of last sea- 

 son's growth, and all surplvis l)ranches that may not l)e needed to make a 

 well-balanced head. >Shoidd the tree get one-sided, trim the branches that 

 should make a faster growth in the spring before buds begin to swell, 

 while the other side should be checked by summer trimming. 



Should the tree be an upright grower and you wish it to branch out 

 more, the branch should be cut that the end l)ud will be on the under 

 side of the limb, or should the tree be naturally spreading, the end bud 

 should be left on the upper side of the branch. 



The place where a limb may be cut from a tree is marked by nature, 

 there being a ring in the bark separating the branch from the trunk of 

 the tree, the cut should be made just on the outer edge of this ring. Hold 

 the knife with the edge of the blade inclined toward the tree and leave 

 a clean cut scar that is inclined slightly upward, such a scar will heal 

 more quickly than one made by cutting straight up. 



Should the tree reach bearing age and fail to produce its fruit, allow- 

 ing that its food and cultivation has been perfect, you may assume that 

 it is growing too fast, then check the growth by summer pruning, which 

 will throw the proper strength into the fruit Ijuds, causing it to bear its 

 fruit W'hen other conditions are favorable. 



So should the tree be trimmed, bearing in mind that until the tree 

 reaches bearing age you shoidd trim for nothing else except to stimulate 

 growth, to shape the top and to prepare the tree for a long life of useful- 

 ness. If this is done properly in the first few years of the tree's life, it 

 will require verj- little trimming afterward, but should be watched very 

 carefully and branches taken off now' and then as circumstances justify. 



TRIMMING THE APPLE ORCHARD— WHY, HOW, AND WHEN. 



BY RICHARD J. BARR, WASHINGTON. 



This is a subject over which there is a great deal of controversy. 

 However, I will say that there is no defined line which can govern every 

 condition; one must be largely governed by varieties as well as other 

 conditions. 



We will start by saying we don't believe in very much trimming, if 

 a tree is started right and the top opened from the start. In the first 

 place, we trim for sunlight and air. Apples require both to make them 

 fine in size and color. If the tree is too compact the fruit will not have 



