PRCTNING OF FBUIT TREES. 21 



removing some of the branches from the interior, and keeping 

 the head open to the light and air. On the other hand, prun- 

 ing can be carried too far, especially by removing so much of 

 the foliage as to leave the nearly horizontal limhs exposed to the 

 full blaze of a nearly vertical sun. The evil effects of this are 

 seen in the death of the bark on the upper side of the large 

 branches thus exposed; the circulation is impeded, and the 

 tree often assumes a stunted and sickly appearance. The pruner, 

 then, must use his own judgment, and adapt his pruning to the 

 special circumstances of his own case. An orchard that is exposed 

 to the sweep of high winds will not suffer from want of circulation 

 of air as one that is sheltered, and, if pruned as woidd he desira- 

 ble for the sheltered orchard, might suffer for the want of that 

 protection which the branches afford each other. So then, it is 

 possible only to point out the objects to be sought, and leave to 

 each one the carrying out of the particular amount of pruning, and 

 the details of the work in his own orchard, in the exercise of 

 those reasoning powers which will enable him to so shape his 

 trees that foliage and fruit shall be fully developed in the great- 

 est abundance. And in this exercise of the judgment lies the 

 true secret of excellence. 



Pruning to Induce Pruitfulness, is sometimes desirable 

 in the case of trees of very vigorous habit, and that are tardy in 

 coming into bearing. This pruning is applied not only to the 

 branches, but also to the roots. The root-pruning simply consists 

 in cutting off a portion of the roots, thereby lessening the quan- 

 tity of nourishment derived from the soil. It is done in autumn, 

 by digging a trench about eighteen inches deep around the tree, 

 with a sharp spade, cutting off the roots that reach the trench. 

 The distance that this trench should be from the trunk will vary 

 according to the size of the tree, taking care that it be so far as 

 not to cut off too many and too large roots. The digging of such 

 a trench once will usually so check the wood growth that the 

 tree will form fruit-buds, and set its fruit. After having 

 thus thrown the tree into bearing, it is usually necessary to sup- 



