PRUNING IN GENERAL. 75 



Dr. Warder says, * ' The growth during the first 

 year is generally a single shoot, sometimes two, 

 but if there be a second it should be subordinated 

 by pinching off its extremity, never by cutting it 

 off, indeed, laterals should always be encouraged, 

 and this will be more and more the case since the 

 demand for low headed trees is increasing, as the 

 laws of physiology are better understood. A young 

 tree better furnished with laterals, is always more 

 stocky, and every way better though not so tall as 

 that which has been drawn up to a single stem. To 

 encourage this, some advise pinching off the term- 

 inal bud in the midst of the growing season, which 

 will cause the swelling and consequently breaking 

 of the lower buds, so as to furnish plenty of lateral. 

 If done later in the season, especially in the strong 

 growing varieties, a branching head may be formed 

 higher up, during the first season, making very 

 pretty trees. This plan of making stocky trees 

 cannot be too highly recommended, and the oppo- 

 site plan of trimming off all the side branches, and 

 even of stripping the leaves from the lower parts of 

 the shoots during the first summer cannot be too 

 severely condemned. ' * 



I have not seen the stripping of leaves during 

 the first summer referred to practiced in the west, 

 however, it is very common to do this the second 

 season, as soon as these lower buds burst, which 

 is not less harmful. 



Is it not time for a concert of action among the 

 nurserymen to educate the planters who gener- 



