PRUNING PEAR TREES 

 ARTHUR FARRAND, " THE PINES," HUDSON, N". Y. 



I I XDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES 



There is nothing more important in the 

 growing of pears than the proper pruning 

 of the trees, and if they are not thus 



; ; . pruned one cannot expect to secure a fine 



;",/ quality of fruit. From my observations, 



V; this important matter has been greatly 



.'Pfcp^ neglected ; however, more attention is now 



^^ap/ v ^jfl| being given each year to the care and 



^ ^P pruning of pear trees, and the results are 



~~ ~'"~ apparent by the large size and fine quality 



of pears that are grown. 



It is well, however, to remember that pear trees do not require 

 so much pruning as many other varieties of fruit trees, because 

 they are more naturally of dwarf habit. The spurs of pear wood 

 bear the fruit, and little or no pruning is necessary after they 

 develop. 



PRUNING FOR A PURPOSE 



However, there are a great many orchards that have not been 

 pruned for years, where careful pruning should be done, avoiding 

 the removal of too much wood from the trees the first year, as it 

 would be so much of a strain on their vitality as to make them 

 very susceptible to disease. 



Most fruit growers know that pruning is done to remove dead 

 wood, to take out crossing branches, to shape the tree well, 'or to 

 insure better fruit. Tree butchers have prejudiced the amateur, 

 but intelligent and proper pruning may be done by anyone who 

 will pay strict attention to a few simple principles, at the same 

 time using common sense. 



All dead wood and useless branches should be cut out of the 

 tree first. When the growth of one branch will injure another by 

 rubbing or crowding it, sacrifice the weaker branch. Shoots 



[1015] 



