AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 255 



ate vigor, and thus making a lop-sided tree, nip it from time 

 to time, and compel or restore an equilibrium ; and if it be in 

 bearing, pluck the fruit while small from the weaker portion, 

 and let it ripen upon the stronger. If your tree generally 

 grow too luxuriantly, and you would encourage early fruiting, 

 check its growth by nipping an inch or two from the points of 

 all its branches in June, and repeat the process a month later 

 if the tree does not appear to feel it, continuing this from year 

 to year, with very light winter pruning. 



To dwarfed trees that are to be kept in the bush form, this 

 mode of summer pruning should be thoroughly and carefully 

 applied, every young shoot being nipped as soon as it has at- 

 tained such a length as the cultivator judges sufficient for the 

 season upon the individual tree, those of strong growth being 

 allowed a foot at the utmost to each young shoot, but generally 

 half this length will be found preferable. The young, tender 

 second growth from the nipped extremity must be renipped, 

 and the only winter pruning necessary should be the cutting 

 off these weakened buds from the extremities so far as to fur- 

 nish a full sound bud to start for the next season's limited ad- 

 dition. 



If, however, the trees are to be " trained," running certain 

 leading shoots horizontally, and treating them somewhat after 

 the manner of spur-pruning the grape, the main young shoot 

 of each may be allowed to lengthen more rapidly say two feet 

 in a season the side shoots throughout its length being nip- 

 ped as above directed for the bush form. See also page 258. 



ROOT PRUNING. 



Root pruning is an operation requiring great caution and 

 moderation in its performance. It is effected by cutting off a 

 portion of the roots at a distance from the tree, in order to 

 check its growth and force fruit. It may be done by digging 

 a trench around the tree and cutting the roots with a knife, or 

 by encircling the tree partially or entirely with a deep cut, 

 made by driving the blade of a post-spade to the depth of a 

 foot or eighteen inches. In all ordinary cases the latter and 

 less laborious process will suffice, with careful summer pruning, 



