THE ORCHARD CROP 



271 



Whenever a large limb is to be removed, it should be cut 

 close to the trunk, as the wound cannot heal quickly and the 

 new growth cannot grow over a projecting stub. Wounds more 

 than one-half inch in diameter should be painted with white 

 lead and oil as a protection against disease and decay. The 

 pruned tree will produce much of its fruit near its main body 

 (Fig. 131), while the unpruned tree will shade its inner twig 



FIG. 131. A well-shaped apple tree 



growth and produce most of its fruit toward its periphery. In 

 the latter case the tree will have much waste space and will be 

 in greater danger from winds. 



355. How to make a tree bear fruit. The growth of fruit 

 trees consists of wood growth, or the formation of vegetative 

 parts such as leaves and limbs, and fruit growth, or the forma- 

 tion of the fruit parts such as the flowers and the fruit itself. 

 While a tree is making rapid wood growth and while its limbs 

 are lengthening rapidly and many new leaves are being formed, 

 the supply of sap and available plant food is used at the growing 



