DWARF APPLES 281 



limbs will gradually lengthen, and the fruit- spurs will 

 become more crooked, yet the tree will always be low 

 and spreading. The one criticism which might be made 

 is that the lowest fruiting branches are still too high. The 

 foliage of the ideal dwarf apple tree almost touches the 

 ground; it has all its main branches well studded with 

 smaller ones, or with fruit- spurs, so that when in full 

 leaf, it shall appear 'feathered' from bottom to top.* * 



"Much wood is allowed to remain near the ground and 

 in the center of the tree, for it is always easier to remove 

 superfluous branches than it is to insert them when they 

 are wanted. The form of the pruned tree is that of a 

 rather broad vase, this being the shape which the tree 

 naturally assumes. During the coming season, it should 

 be well provided with foliage, so that none of the main 

 branches shall be exposed to the full glare of the summer 

 sun. The fruit produced will also receive proper shade. 

 The specimen as a whole may be considered as a good 

 type of dwarf apple tree which has not been forced to 

 assume a form which is unnatural to it." 



RINGING AND GIRDLING 



Girdling is a generic term used to designate the 

 making of a wound completely around a stem. 

 A girdle may extend only through the bark, or 

 deep into the wood. Ringing is a specific horti- 

 cultural term used to designate a girdle which 

 extends only through the bark. The wound may 

 be a simple incision with the point of a knife, or 

 it may be made by the complete removal of a 

 section of bark. In horticultural practice, gir- 

 dling into the wood is rarely desirable, and we 

 shall, therefore, use the word ringing. 



