146 THE PRUNING OF PLANTS 



production of fruit. The peach serves as a good example, 

 as in this case the plant bears its fruit upon the growth of the 

 previous year and the grower can reduce the crop in propor- 

 tion to the capacity of the tree. Pruning aids in combating 

 certain diseases, as, for example, the cankers and the blights. 

 The only control for these diseases is the removal of the dis- 

 eased part by pruning. 



Pruning the Top of a Plant. — The pruning of the branches of 

 a plant is the only way of forming a good symmetrical top. 

 The forming of the head of a tree is by far the most important 

 operation in the growing of a plant. This is true not only of 

 the commercial orchard but of the home orchard or the orna- 

 mental garden. Shade trees also require some systematic 

 pruning, because their beauty largely depends upon the uni- 

 formity of their top both in their dormant as well as in their 

 green stage. 



When the top of a plant is pruned, it requires judgment and 

 experience. If a tree is the plant which is to be pruned, the 

 most important consideration is the location of the branches 

 along the trunk, which is to form the framework of the tree. 

 It makes little difference what kind of a tree you are pruning 

 at this early stage, the principal consideration should be the 

 even and equal distribution of the side branches along the 

 trunk. There should be no crotches allowed to remain, and 

 the branches should be distributed uniformly, so that the 

 tree will be well balanced. 



In most trees it is desirable to have the main structural 

 branches of the tree composed of from three to five limbs of 

 about equal size. A tree should never be allowed to divide 

 into two limbs which again subdivide because a tree of this 

 type is more likely to split. 



If a bush or a bramble is to be pruned, the proper way 

 is to remove a certain number of the canes. These canes 

 should be cut off close to the surface of the ground. The 

 remainder can be headed back if necessary. 



Pruning the Roots of a Plant. — The pruning of the roots 

 of any plant is necessary whenever transplanting is done. 

 Root pruning is imperative in order to remove any broken 

 or mutilated roots. All of the irregular roots should be 



