136 THE PRINCIPLES OF PRUNING 



3. To keep the plant within manageable shape 

 and limits. 



4. To change the habit of the plant from more 

 or less wood -bearing or fruit -bearing (or flower- 

 bearing) . 



5. To remove superfluous or injured parts. 



6. To facilitate spraying and harvesting. 



7. To facilitate tillage and to improve the con- 

 venience of the plantation. 



8. To train the plant to some desired form. 



1. Heavy pruning of the top of a plant tends to 

 increase the production of wood for strong 

 vegetative growth ). 



A plant growing under normal conditions has a 

 perfect balance of top and root. The top and 

 root mutually supply, support and nourish each 

 other. The one must respond to the other. The 

 more root, the greater the amount of crude ma- 

 terials taken in; and the greater the amount of 

 these materials, the greater must be the elaborat- 

 ing leaf surface, and the greater, therefore, the 

 growth of all parts of the plant. If a large part 

 of the top is removed and the root is untouched, 

 the balance is broken. An equal amount of root 

 supplies a smaller amount of top. There is more 

 food for all the remaining branches. The re- 

 sult is greater growth of these parts than they 

 normally would have made ; or new parts suckers 

 may arise. Let the reader recall the crab -apple 



