quick shove with the 

 hands will usually take 

 off a branch an inch 

 thick. Water-sprouts 

 are removed by this 

 with great speed. You 

 cau strike upward with 

 the chisel or dowmvard 

 with the hook. If the 

 factories do not put 

 these on the market, get 

 your smith to forge one. 

 In apple trees that are 

 properly cared for there 

 is scarcely anything to 

 be removed but small 

 branches that cross or 

 interfere. Always pre- 

 serve the "fruit spurs." 

 Some of the finest fruit 

 grows under the foliage. 

 Look at photo 95. It is 

 certain that it was not 

 Baalam's ass that performed that trimming, but it would be interesting to get the meas- 

 urement of the ears of the "tree-butcher" who cut off all the fruit spurs, resulting in that 

 growth of water-sprouts. 



Fruit or shade trees may have their heads entirely changed when they are young if 

 there be a good, strong leader. Photo 96 is an example of how it can be done. This 

 tree had the top formed too low, and would have shut off all view in a certain direction 

 from a door and a window. Three-fourths of the branches have been removed. The 

 trunk can now be straightened. This can be done by running a sharp knife down 

 through the bark in the inside of the crooked portions. This releases the tension and in 

 time will draw the stem upright. One of the crookedest (young) trees that I ever saw is 

 now perfectly straight. Cherry trees have a very tough bark, and it is well to run the 

 knife clear down from the head to the base, two or three places, every year. When they 



are in bloom is a good time. 

 It will be helpful to the pear 

 also. 



But little pruning is 

 needed on the plum, cherry, 

 peach and pear, more than 

 keeping out the interfering 

 branches and directing the 

 growth of the top. By "direct- 

 ing the growth" I mean it is 

 within your power to form the 

 head of a tree almost any way 

 you desire. I will suppose you 

 are standing looking at young 

 trees, and at your left there is 

 a gap or open space in the top. 

 You desire to fill that out. 

 You select a good branch close 

 to this opening, and then 



