PRUNING AT DIFFERENT SEASONS \\^ 



blight of disease of any kind, frost injury, or in any form die-back 

 from whatever cause. Such wood is not only of lessened value, but 

 there is also danger of extension of the trouble. Removing such 

 wood and training new wood to take its place should always be 

 in mind. 



Where cutting of large branches is demanded for any reason it 

 should be remembered that the wounds are most quickly healed and 

 least injury to the tree is to be apprehended if the cutting is done 

 near the beginning of the growing season, and not at the beginning 

 of the dormant period. 



Weak tree from ill-spaced branches. 



TIMES FOR PRUNING 



Some changes of views have lately prevailed as to the times, 

 within the dormant period, during which winter-pruning can be 

 done to the best advantage. Formerly it was thought to be a vital 

 matter that no cutting should be done until the leaves had fallen, 

 and this is still the prevailing practice, and may prove to be on all 

 accounts the best. Recently, however, pruning in autumn has been 

 quite widely practised. 



Fall pruning. There is a time near the end of the active season 

 in California when the foliage changes its aspect. There is no 

 marked change in color, perhaps, but there is a certain limpness and 

 drooping which betokens decided decline in activity. It comes first 

 to the early fruits, the cherries and apricots, for instance, and upon 

 old trees earlier than young ones. The buds are well formed ; the 

 season's growth apparently complete. There are no frosts to hasten 

 the fall of the leaf and it remains in place. Does it render any im- 

 portant service? On the conclusion that it does not, many growers 

 begin the winter pruning while the days are longer and the ground 

 dry and firm, rather than delay pruning until the short, dark days 

 and rain-soaked soil of December and January render pruning ex- 

 pensive and disagreeable. Those trees are first pruned which first 

 assume the appearance described, and the work proceeds with other 

 varieties afterwards until the winter pruning may be finished by 

 December 1 about the time when it commonly began under the old 



