PRUNING FOR FULL FRUITING 



117 



dying laterals and spurs. An attempt to cure this afterwards by 

 sawing out many large branches is only partially successful, though 

 perhaps the best thing that can be done after such condition has 

 been allowed to exist. The only way to keep the interior of the tree 

 full enough of strong, bearing wood is to resolutely and regularly 

 thin out surplus shoots as the tree advances in age and size. This 

 work is as important with trees which are not regularly cut back as 

 with those which are thus treated. It is of the most vital as well 

 as the most generally neglected item in orchard practice. 



First winter pruning. 



Second summer growth in orchard. 



In thinning out lateral bearing shoots seldom leave more than 

 one at any point ; select the strongest ; remove the rest close to the 

 branch. When a new shoot springs out at the base of an older one 

 remove the older one ; when a new shoot breaks out on the side of 

 an older one cut the older one back to that point. In thinning always 

 reject the older, weaker laterals or spurs. This does not apply to 

 the outbreak of strong suckers or water sprouts ; wherever they 

 appear they should usually be cleanly cut away unless a new main 

 branch is desirable. 



Pruning of bearing trees should always have regard to the re- 

 moval of branches which have become decrepit through sunburn, 



