118 THE APPLE CULTUMIST. 



duce the sap to push the central stem upward with more 

 rapidity. But, while it is the aim to promote the upward 

 growth of the central stem, the pruner must exercise judg- 

 ment over the upward growth, that it does not shoot up too 

 tall and slender. If the central stem does not develop in 

 size and lateral proportions fully equal to the upward 

 growth, let the top be pinched a trifle, which will induce 

 the head to thicken-up. In case the topmost bud or buds 

 start upward before the body of the stem and side branch- 

 es have become sufficiently stocky, pinch the bud alluded 

 to again, and keep the upward growth back, and thus pro- 

 mote the thickening of the main stem. Many young prun- 

 ers, in their eagerness to get tall trees, have rubbed off all 

 the buds on a slender stem, except a small number near the 

 top ; and the consequence was, that the growth was very 

 slender and feeble, so much so that there was nothing but a 

 central stem, and that was so slender that it could not stand 

 erect without a stake. In order to have the central stem 

 grow with the greatest rapidity, we must reserve stems and 

 leaves around it, clear to the ground. But the pruner must 

 avoid the error of promoting a long and slender growth to 

 the neglect of a stocky development. If the central stem 

 does not enlarge in size, so as to be of a fair proportion to 

 the height, keep the topmost bud pinched off, and thus stop 

 the upward growth entirely until every part is thickened-up 

 in a satisfactory manner. Then the central stem may be 

 allowed to push up another foot. The great aim is to get 

 every part started correctly. 



Low or High Heads. If it is the purpose of the pruner 

 to form low heads, so low that one can step from the ground 

 on the first branches, let him select four branches, or buds, 

 say two feet from the ground, to be trained as the first sys- 

 tem of lateral branches. About twenty inches above these 

 choose four other buds for a second system of branches; 



