PRUNING THE QUINCE. rp: 
when trees have their crops destroyed by late frosts. An 
excessive crop so far exhausts the nutritious matter 
stored in the branches, that the tree takes an off year to 
recoyer and lay up for the next. 
(b.) Pruning the Limbs to promote fruitfulness must 
of necessity be done in the summer, when it will reduce 
the young wood-growth, and so lead to such an accumu- 
lation of sap in the branch as will organize the remaining 
buds to produce fruit. ‘‘If of two unequal branches 
SSS By 
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Ay é 
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Fig. 47.—FIVE YEAR OLD TREE AFTER PRUNING (From Photograph). 
the stronger is shortened, and stopped in its growth, the 
other becomes stronger; and this is one of the most 
useful facts connected with pruning, because it enables a 
skillful cultivator to equalize the rate of growth of all 
parts of a tree.” 
This shortening of the growing twigs should be done 
when they are so tender they can be pinched off with the 
thumb and finger. If the next bud immediately pushes 
into another extension of the shoot, it wi.l be necessary 
to pinch off again a little further on, even to the third 
