PRUNING THE TREES 



ties intended as permancnts, the writer prefers 

 three to three and one-half feet and for more 

 spreading varieties four feet; while for tem- 

 porary trees eighteen inches should be a good 

 height. 



5. To do away with weak crotches and to 

 remove crossing or Interfering branches. A 

 crotch formed by two branches of equal size, 

 especially when the split Is deep, Is a weak 

 crotch and should be avoided. Strong crotches 

 are formed by forcing the development of 

 lateral buds and making almost a right angle 

 branch from the parent one. All branches 

 which rub each other, which tend to occupy the 

 same space with another, or which generally 

 seem out of place, are better removed as soon 

 as any of these tendencies are found to 

 exist. 



Ideals in Pruning. — The general method 

 of pruning the old trees and the ideal In mind 

 for It will also Influence the pruning of the 

 young tree, especially the shaping of it. Once 

 determined upon, the Ideal should be consist- 

 ently followed out In the pruning of the tree as 

 It becomes older. As the tree comes to bearing 

 age it will be necessary to prune somewhat 



53 



