PRUNING AND TRAINING. 119 



and so continue to do as the central stem pushes upward, 

 rubbing or cutting off all buds and twigs on the central 

 stem between every two systems of branches. The central 

 stem will push upward two feet or more annually, if the 

 soil is fertile and properly cultivated. But it will be more 

 satisfactory, every summer after the central stem has pushed 

 upward about twenty inches, to pinch the topmost bud, and 

 stop its upward growth for the season. Then, the next 

 year, it will send out a system of lateral branches at the 

 point where the growth of the previous season ended. In 

 case it is desirable to form high heads, so high that a horse 

 can travel beneath the lower branches, let the first system 

 of limbs be commenced about five feet from the ground, 

 after which proceed according to previous directions. All 

 through the growing season, the pruner must watch his 

 young trees every week, to see if the tops are growing uui 

 f ormly on every side. One branch may be pushing out too 

 rapidly, and robbing its fellow of a proper proportion of 

 sap and -space. Let the terminal buds of such aspirants be 

 pinched a little, and continue to pinch them until others are 

 even with them. When too large a number of twigs push 

 out on the sides of lateral branches, cut off those that will 

 not be needed. If a sub-branch begins to push away more 

 rapidly than those around it, pinch the end, to keep its 

 growth within desired bounds. By attending to pinching 

 at the proper time, a pruner will be able to make his tree- 

 tops assume almost any desired form. 



How to Prune. Before a person proceeds to pinch off a 

 bud or cut off a branch, he should be able to state to an- 

 other person, what kind of a tree, as to form, he desires 

 what he proposes to effect by pinching off a bud or sever- 

 ing a branch, and how his tampering with buds and branch- 

 es will accomplish the end in view. The first important 

 point is to obtain a definite and correct idea of what you 



