Pruning for Form 107 



in the vicinity should be removed. Very old trees should 

 be treated in the manner recommended for those of the 

 third class, although requiring greater care and judgment 

 in their management. 



In the following brief instructions as to procedure in prun- 

 ing a tree to form, we also follow the advice of Des Cars. 



First select a vigorous leader, if no natural one exists, 

 i.e., a branch which is to become (or remain) the main axis; 

 any almost vertical branch near the top may be taken. The 

 original leader may be discarded if not desirable, and a lat- 

 eral branch substituted, which will soon straighten up, if 

 the growth of the new leader is stimulated in this (as shown 

 before) by tying it into upright 

 position with withes attached 

 to the base of the original leader 



or of some other branch. If Fig. 39. — Combined pruning 



there is no serviceable leader to '^^^ ^"^ ''^^'''• 



be found, two or three or more branches should be pre- 

 served to form a compact head. A forking leader is rather 

 to be discouraged, but the forking of branchlets at their 

 ends is to be encouraged by removing all branchlets which 

 assume a vertical growth, for these forks give to the tree a 

 more natural appearance, and by dividing the flow of sap 

 prevent the growth of too vigorous shoots, which might in 

 time develop into supplementary leaders to the injury to 

 the tree. Altogether, the development of the unnaturally 

 strong growth of any individual branch, esjDeciall}- at the 

 expense of the leader and in an undesirable direction 

 (drooping or recurved), is to be checked by shortening. 



The operation of pruning should begin at the top of the 

 tree, both for the sake of the safety of the operator and the 

 better opportunity of controlling the shape. After estab- 

 lishing the leader or leaders, the main branches are short- 



