PRUNING AND TMAININO. 113 



excessive pruning was very fashionable even among pro- 

 fessional orchardists ; but they have learned better. The 

 current of opinion is setting so strongly the other way 

 now, that some are advocating no pruning at all. Proba- 

 bly this will be found as much the other extreme; and in 

 due time we may expect the true mode to be settled upon. 



When we make a peculiar motion with an ox-whip, well- 

 trained oxen understand the movement, if not a word is ut- 

 tered. The motion means something. When a horse feels 

 the whip, the blow of a good driver has a peculiar signifi- 

 cation. A blow from an axe, a cut with the pruning-saw, 

 a slash with the pruning-knife, and a pinch with the thumb- 

 nail, all have a peculiar signification as affecting the growth 

 of the tree and the development of branches. The growth 

 and development of an apple-tree are so completely under 

 the control of law, that a skillful pruner can make the 

 branches assume almost any desired form. If he pinches 

 or cuts wrong, the branches will grow wrong. If the 

 pruning and pinching are performed in accordance with 

 the law which controls the flow and circulation of the sap, 

 every branch and twig will spread out, or stretch upward, 

 just as the flow of the sap has been directed in a lateral 

 direction, or vertically. Those persons who understand the 

 philosophy of pruning, know that by pinching off the ter- 

 minal bud, the upward, rampant growth will be checked, 

 and the shoot will begin to enlarge in thickness and to in- 

 crease in strength, and to send out lateral branches where 

 nothing but buds existed. The true reason for this phe- 

 nomenon is, the sap, which was before strongly attracted to 

 the leading stem, is now distributed more equally among 

 the other branches. 



If we wish to make a tree or shrub " grow low," and 

 extend its lateral branches in every direction as much as 

 possible, we pinch off the tip ends of the leading, vertical 



