50 



retarded, and the tendency to form fruit buds is increased. No precise 

 time can be fixed for summer pruning, as much will depend on the nature 

 of the trees and their state of growth. Most generally, pinching back 

 should be commenced in November or December, and may be continued, 

 if necessary, up to the end of the summer. Very often trees will 

 require a second stopping. The most effective system of summer pruning 

 is to go over the trees two or three times in the season. 



SUMMER PRUNING. 



A. Black mark showing B. Shoot pinched too C. Pinched shoot, with 

 where shoot ought to far back. a new shoot, 



be stopped. 



System in Pruning. The full advantages that the cultivator can 

 obtain from his trees by pruning will be best secured when the work is 

 carried on systematically from the time the trees are planted till they 

 reach maturity. In the case of a young tree, the pruning for two or 

 three years may be termed its education, as like a child it can in the 

 earlier stages of growth be more readily trained in the way it should go 

 than when it gets older. Only such branches as are required to form 

 the tree should be allowed to remain, and no strength ought to be 

 permitted to go to waste in the production of useless wood that must 

 afterwards be removed. The energy of the plant expended in this 

 manner will, for all practical purposes, be thrown away. Besides, 

 whenever useless branches are allowed to mature, they, as a matter of 

 course, weaken those that are required, by dividing the nourishment 

 supplied by the trees. In pruning young trees cultivators must bear 

 in mind that the primary considerations should be well-balanced heads, 

 with a regular proportion of branches on every side. Older trees, of 



