THE CANADIAN H0RTICDLTDRI8T. 



105 



two ways, but the resulting effects of 

 both ways are the same. First, by 

 digging to a certain depth around the 

 tree and at a certain diameter, having 

 the tree for the centre. The practical 

 effect of this is to cut off the fine fibrous 

 or feeding roots and deprive the tree of 

 a very large part of its accustomed 

 nourishment, and this threatens to en- 

 danger its life and the result will be 

 fniitfulness. Second, by taking the 

 tree up and removing it to another 

 place the result will be the same. The 

 only material difficulty with these op- 

 erations is that they must, in many 

 cases, be repeated ; yet in many cases, 

 the habit of fruitfulness being com- 

 menced, it may in all probability con- 

 tinue. These kinds of pruiiino:, how- 

 ever, are seldom resorted to ejccept in 

 extreme cases, and then only for once or 

 twice. But we are to notice, secondly, 



BRANCH PRUNING. 



This is by far the most common 

 method of pruning. Theoretically, it 

 consists in lopping off many of the buds 

 and some of the branches, in order to 

 throw greater force of vegetable life into 

 those that are left, and the implements 

 used Jire those that have already been 

 mentioned. The operation rests u|x>n 

 the philosophy that each tree is fur- 

 nisheil with a certain amount of life force 

 to be distributed over its entire suffice, 

 and the less the surface th» greater the 

 manifestation, and vice versa. I think, 

 however, the true philosophy undoubt- 

 edly is that the extended leaf surface 

 of the tree during the previous }ear, 

 has enabled it to store up within itself 

 a very large amount of life force, or 

 food if you please, and that by contract- 

 ing the demands by means of pruning, 

 the exhibitions are more demonstrative. 

 However this may be, it is most certain 

 that pruning has this effect upon the 

 plant. Branch pruning may result dif- 

 ferently, according as it is done when 



the leaves are on or when they are off, 

 or, in other words, in summer or winter, 

 as the one is said to be used for increased 

 fruitfulness and the other for increased 

 wood growth. 



SUMMER PRUNING 



consists in going over the trees or the 

 vines (this is very much used in grape 

 vines), and with the thumb and fore- 

 finger pinching out the tip of the young 

 growth. This pruning is sometimes 

 called "pinching," from this circum- 

 stance. By this means, trees mav be 

 modelled and the growth directed in a 

 most surprising manner. Pruning in 

 winter is much more laborious and 

 complicated, as we have to do with 

 matured buds and branches. It con- 

 sists in cutting off or out such buds or 

 branches as are deemed unnecessary. 

 For this kind of pruning, it is a good 

 and very safe rule to examine the trees 

 annually and properly direct the growth, 

 so that we may never have to cut out 

 very large branches at any one time. 

 The disastrous effect on the tree is thus 

 reduced to a minimum, and is not so 

 marked as by cutting off large heavy 

 branches at once. The minutice of the 

 business must be learned by practice, 

 under the direction of a good master. 



THE OBJECT 



of pruning may be said to be twofold : 

 1st, To regulate or balance the growth ; 

 that is by checking luxuriant branches 

 and encouraging weak ones to push for- 

 ward, and also by encouraging the 

 growth on the sides of the tree that are 

 deficient. 2nd. To form and matui-e 

 fruit spurs and buds ; that is, by check- 

 ing luxurious wood growth and direct- 

 ing the energies of the tree or vine to 

 the formation of fruit spurs and fruit 

 buds to be developed in other seasons. 

 But the objects of pruning may be, 1st, 

 To change the size and outward form 

 of the tree or vine. To cut into less 

 prescribed limits will have the effect to 



