The Canadian Horticulturist. 



63 



of the tree, and therefore tends to 

 increase its fruitfulness. By it we 

 remove the foliage just when it is in 

 active operation, taking in from the 

 atmosphere carbon, and otherwise 

 transforming the crude sap into a 

 suitable liquid for building up the 

 cellular tissues of the trees. To a 

 limited extent this may be done in 

 safety, but if done too freely the tree 

 will be some time in recovering its 

 strength. 



On the other hand, early spring 

 pruning, being done when the tree is 

 dormant, does not affect the vigor of 

 the tree so much, and consecjuently 

 strong growth results in order to 

 maintain the equilibrium between 

 the roots and the branches. 



In favor of the summer time, it is 

 urged that wounds made then heal 

 more readily than when made in 

 winter. This is true, for the growth 

 at that time begins to cover the 

 wounds while they are yet fresh ; 

 but perfect healing will also follow 

 the winter pruning, provided the 

 wound is properly protected from the 

 air by paint or varnish. 



To a limited extent, then, sununer 

 pruning is advisable, especially where 

 trees are growing thriftily, and need 

 a check to induce fruitfulness ; and 

 the proper time for it is when the 

 first growth is completed, and the 

 terminal bud formed, for by that 

 time the cambium is sufficiently 

 matured to perform nature's cure 

 of the wounded portions. Generallj 

 speaking, this period is from the 

 middle of Jime until the middle of 

 July. 



Winter pruning is generally adopt- 

 ed because it is the season of the 



greatest leisure, and the naked limbs 

 enable the operator to judge best 

 which shoukl be removed ; but the 

 term is misleading, for it must never 

 be done when the wood is frozen, 



Fic. 13. 



and hence either the fall, the early 



spring, or only the mild days of 

 winter, are at all suitable. 



.\nother caution must here be 



E 



Fig. 14. 



given, and that is, never to prune in 

 spring after the buds begin to swell 

 and the first growth is pushing, for 

 the sap, being active and not yet 

 sufficiently matured for healing the 

 cut, will leak, and this so-called 



