

CARE OF YOUNG TREES 819 



acre with equal allowance for spread and a better exposure to sun- 

 liglit ; on the other hand, the advantages of the right-angle method 

 are greater ease in working and better adaptation to thinning. 



Pruning at Time of Setting 



Pruning at planting time must always vary according to the 

 previous growth of the tree. The general principles that govern 

 pruning may be outlined as follows: 



1. So far as possible such laterals should be preserved as will 

 give an ideal type of framework to the tree later on. 



2. The better the distribution of laterals along the stem, the 

 less is the liability to breaking later. 



3. The distance between laterals does not change materially 

 as the tree takes on growth. Therefore, those that seem far apart 

 in the young tree will sometimes be much too thick when the tree 

 is older. 



4. The strongest growth will always be from the last bud left 

 on the new growth; it is therefore important that we should cut 

 to a bud pointing in the direction in which greatest growth is 

 needed. 



5. The more severely we prune a tree when dormant, the 

 stronger it will grow, and the same holds as true~ at planting time 

 as at any other. 



6. As trees come into bearing the limbs have a natural ten- 

 dency to droop; it is therefore wise to prune in such a manner 

 as to induce short, rigid growth during the early life of the tree. 

 This can be done by shortening in, but not by indiscriminate cut- 

 ting back. 



All of this points to but one conclusion, pruning at time of 

 planting must depend on size of trees, variety, and type of tree 

 desired. For example, while we could start an ideal tree in 

 almost any manner, we are always obliged, when we have a whip 

 or a crotch tree that must first be trimmed to a whip, to content 

 ourselves with topping it to the height at which we desire the 

 laterals to start. No specific rule can therefore be laid down that 

 will answer at all times, but all growers should understand the 

 principles and be governed according to conditions.* 



* See article on pruning, page 830. 



