CHAPTER IX 



PRUNING. 



PRUNING has two objects ; one, to promote vigorous growth 

 in older trees, and to lessen the number of branches, where 

 they become so thick as to interfere with each other's full 

 development, and retard or lessen the perfect ripening of 

 fruit. This occurs with large apple trees, which have 

 grown without care till the thick mass of branches and 

 leaves present an almost impenetrable shade. The other 

 object, is to lessen the luxuriant growth of young trees 

 growing in rich soil, and to prevent the too rapid formation 

 of the wood and leaves at the expense of the production of 

 fruit ; the most familiar instance of which occurs in the 

 summer pruning of hardy grapes, by pinching off the ends 

 of the young shoots. 



I. Fruits are acid in cold summers, and comparatively 

 destitute of flavor. Forced fruit, grown in winter when 

 there is little light, cannot compare in quality with that 

 ripened under the full blaze of a summer's sun ; and 

 melons, grown in frames covered with mats, possess none 

 of the luscious flavor of those cultivated in the open air. 

 Hence the advantage of a free admission of light and air 

 among the branches of fruit trees, instead of allowing them 

 to be covered with a thick shade of leaves. 



The utility of sun-light is shown by the difference between 

 specimens of fruit on the same tree fully exposed to the 

 solar rays, and in thick shade. Even the exposed side of 

 the same apple is often found decidedly the highest-flavored. 

 The rich acid of the Esopus Spitzenburgh, and the sugary 

 sweetness of the Tallman Sweeting are more strikingly 

 observable under the deep red skin of the one, <.md the 

 brown sunny cheek of the other. 



There is, however, more judgment needed in piuning 

 large trees, than perhaps any other operation in their 



