7O DWARF FRUIT TREES 



The system just outlined has in view the summer 

 pruning of the horizontal cordon apple. The upright 

 cordon is pruned in almost exactly the same manner. 

 Various forms of espaliers are handled in much the 

 same way. Strong shoots or leaders are allowed to 

 grow at the ends of the main branches to keep up a 

 proper circulation and elaboration of sap, while the 

 growth of fruit spurs is encouraged along the sides 

 of the stems by frequent and regular pruning. 



In a somewhat less precise manner the same system 

 of pruning can be applied to bush and pyramid forms. 

 Each bush, for instance, is made up of a certain 

 number of fruiting branches. The fruit is borne on 

 spurs on the sides of these branches, while the woody 

 growth is made by the leaders appearing at the ends 

 of these branches. These leaders are annually cut 

 back and the constant formation of fruit spurs is 

 encouraged by pinching whatever shoots are on the 

 sides of the main stems. 



It will be seen that the whole business of pruning 

 falls into two general categories, viz., winter pruning 

 and summer pruning. The winter or spring pruning 

 is given any time after the stress of winter is over 

 and before the sap starts running in the spring. This 

 is the time when the ordinary fruit trees are customa- 

 rily pruned. The work at this season consists chiefly 

 in cutting back leaders. These are pruned off short, 

 that is the whole stem is taken off down to within 

 two or three buds of where it started growth the 

 previous year. In some cases it is worth while to 

 cut even further back, going into wood two or three 

 years old. At this spring pruning the defective or 



