132 THE APPLE CULTURIST. 



sending out numerous sprouts to shade the bare arms of the 

 tree, as represented by the cut on p. 130. This fact shows 

 that all the vacant space within the head of the tree should 

 be occupied by bearing branches; and the upper side of 

 horizontal arms should be covered with fruit-spurs and 

 leaves, or small branches, to shade the surface of the large 

 limbs. Many a valuable tree has been seriously damaged 

 by the scalding heat of the sun pouring down on a large 

 limb or on the side of a leaning tree. 



Forked Trees to be avoided. Many fruit-trees are more 

 inclined to produce a forked than a single stem. A forked 

 top should never be allowed to form, as such tree-tops are 

 exceedingly liable to split apart at the fork, to the great in- 

 jury of the tree, and frequently to its entire destruction. 

 It is very easy to prevent the formation of a fork. When 

 two small shoots become rivals, let one of them be kept 

 back by pinching, and be trained as a lateral branch, or let 

 it be cut off smoothly close to the other stem. A fork 

 should not be allowed to form on any of the branches, as 

 one or the other will most assuredly split down, either be- 

 neath the heavy burden of fruit or when some person steps 

 on it, while gathering the fruit. There is no gain in any re- 

 spect by allowing a tree to grow into a forked top. The 

 tree will not be so symmetrical, neither will it yield any 

 more fruit. Hence, if a fork has been allowed to form, so 

 that the branches are as large as a man's arm, it will be far 

 better to saw off one fork than to allow the top to increase 

 in size. But see that the wound is covered with a heavy 

 coat of grafting-wax and paper. In case a forked tree- 

 top has attained a large size, let a half-inch iron bolt be put 

 through the body six or eight inches above the junction of 

 the forks, and let the nut be screwed up tightly. Let a 

 large flat head be made on the bolt, and let a wide washer 

 be placed beneath the nut. Should there be two lateral 



