60 BEGINNERS' GUIDE TO FRUIT GROWING 



the lateral spread of trees in order that the day of 

 cutting out crowding trees may be delayed as long 

 as possible. 



To keep the heads open. Many varieties of trees 

 form so much wood that their heads are closed to 

 air and sunlight. Fruit is borne only on the tops 

 and sides. Varieties with this tendency must be 

 opened out with the pruning knife, so as to let in 

 sun and air. 



To encourage new growth. While pruning is ap- 

 plied to trees which grow too much, it may be used 

 also to correct the opposite tendency. Old trees 

 which, through general neglect, have ceased to make 

 reasonable growth, may be helped by severe cutting 

 back. 



To regulate fruit bearing. Proper pruning will 

 serve either to encourage trees toward earlier or 

 heavier bearing, or, differently applied, will serve 

 to check a tendency toward overbearing. 



FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES 



These very diverse objects are not accomplished, 

 of course, without recourse to equally diverse 

 methods of pruning. Let us look, therefore, at some 

 of the principles on which these various methods are 

 founded. 



First, we should notice that the tendency toward 

 wood growth and the tendency toward fruit bear- 

 ing are to some extent antagonistic. During youth 

 the tree grows rapidly, but bears no fruit ; but when 

 old age comes on there may be heavy crops of fruit, 

 while the tree makes very scant growth. Through- 

 out the life of the tree, moreover, any treatment 

 which checks wood growth influences the tree 



