PRUNING IN GENERAL. 79 



would be used by the painter, to prevent its run- 

 ning down upon the trunk of the tree. Grafting 

 wax, varnish, or anything that will seal the wound 

 from the air will do as well. Gum shellac cut in 

 alcohol is an excellent preparation for this. 



When at planting there has been a heavy cut- 

 ting back of the tree, which is advisable, we have 

 introduced a manner of pruning from almost neces- 

 sity which, like all other pruning, is liable to lead 

 to trouble later on. At the ends or stubs, where 

 the limbs have been removed, there is likely to be 

 an unnaturally close growth, several branches 

 starting from this point; here judgment must be 

 used, and, if too many, thin them out as soon as 

 they start. If a branch is to be cut off, the earlier 

 it is done the better, while it is small. 



Some varieties will need much closer attention 

 in this matter than others. The Duchess of Olden- 

 burg, Wealthy, Walbridge, Tallman St., Limber 

 Twig and others make an open top, while the 

 Ben Davis, Iowa Blush, Jonathan, Northern 

 Spy, etc., are more apt to make a close top. 

 The Willow Twig is at times, unless closely 

 watched, apt to make poor forks, such as do not 

 4 ' weld together ' ' at their union with the trunk or 

 other branches. These will not sustain any great 

 strain, either from weight of fruit or the wrenching 

 of storms. Cut out the one that is the weaker, as 

 soon as it first develops this weakness. 



A perfectly natural tree will not lean, as a rule, 

 to the northeast; while one with the lower limbs 



