BRANCH AND ROOT PRUNING 43 



THINNING FRUIT 



If you wish for fine fruit or a crop every year, trees 

 must not be overworked, especially in their earlier days. 

 Thin whenever there is a large crop, but do not begin 

 too soon, as some fruits are not fully fertilised, and may 

 fall. Never let fruits touch each other. As the fruits 

 mature, give any grub-eaten to the pigs, and use inferior 

 pears for cooking purposes. Grub-eaten fruit must not 

 lie on the ground. 



SUMMER, WINTER, BRANCH AND ROOT PRUNING ; 

 LIFTING 



Summer pruning rests chiefly on the principle that the 

 trees should always be open more or less while in leaf 

 to the sun, the light, and the air. So cut out at any time 

 branches that crowd the tree or threaten to cross other 

 boughs. Cut from below, so as not to tear bark away. 

 Pears do not bleed from being cut. In July, when the 

 growing time is almost over, cut back to six or seven 

 leaves any strong shoots springing from a main branch, 

 or in cordons, from the stem. If they shoot again, they 

 should again be stopped. In late autumn or winter look 

 over the trees, reduce the shoots to two or three eyes, 

 taking care not to remove bloom buds. Early in the 

 summer, and at any time, remove from the trunk and 

 boughs any shoots threatening to crowd or shade the 

 centre. Keep the tree (especially the centre) open to 

 sun and light. Even large standards are improved by 

 summer pruning. Tree-pruners should be used where 

 the shoots are out of hand-reach. Root pruning is also 

 essential in strong soils where trees are too rank in 

 growth and produce wood rather than fruit. Trees of 

 all kinds may be root pruned with advantage in such 

 soils, and also where the lower soil is bad. Open a 



