The Cultivation of the Fruit-Farm 137 



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■ inferior ones. Therefore have as few poor ones as 



■ possible. Strawberries are best trimmed by setting 

 I a new bed every year. Raspberries, dewberries, 



■ and blackberries must be trimmed annually by 

 m cutting out the old canes. Currants require some 



trimming, but chiefly of dead wood, broken canes, 

 and superfluous sprouts. Gooseberries must be 

 trimmed to keep them within bounds. 



Of tree fruit the peach ever tends to overgrowth 

 of foliage and therefore bears vigorous trimming; 

 no other tree so much. "Heading back'* is the 

 rule with peaches. Such trimming prolongs the 

 life of the tree and prevents its reaching an un- 

 manageable height. Trimming the tree low pre- 

 vents wind-break and all its evils. But greatest 

 care must be taken to make clean cuts, close to the 

 body of limb or trunk, and, if possible, to paint all 

 large wounds. The tree, if healthy, soon grows a 

 cover of bark over small cuts. When the tree has 

 been lacerated by wind-breakage, the bruise 

 should be cut down smooth and painted over 

 against rot and disease. Sweet cherry trees are 

 brittle, are subject to the borer and to rot. High 

 winds play havoc with them, and ice storms are 

 their great enemy. It is always perilous to risk 

 much weight on the limb of the tree. I do not 

 speak here of tree-diseases but of trimming. One 

 can soon discover which of his trees grow slowly, 

 which rapidly. The rapid growers require heaviest 

 pruning. Fruit of quality means abundant sun- 

 light; therefore the rule is for open centers. Earth 



