138 THE NUKSEKY. 



standards in an orchard possess the single advantage of 

 admitting the operations of the plongh under the branches, 

 low standards are much more secure against the numerous 

 fatal diseases that attack the trunks — are much more 

 accessible for the performance of all the necessary details 

 of management, and for the gathering of the fruit. 



These are all very important advantages certainly ; but 

 the most important one is the safety of the tree against 

 diseases of the trunk. In all parts of this country, we 

 have a powerful sun in summer, and in winter and spring 

 sudden and violent changes from one extreme to another; 

 and experience has shown, that the trunk and large 

 branches, being fully exposed to all external influences, 

 are generally the parts first attacked with disease. Cul- 

 tivators are, of course, at liberty to choose for themselves ; 

 but, except to meet the wants of some particular circum- 

 stances, no standard tree should have a branchless stem 

 above five feet in height : four is preferable for all, ex- 

 cept orchards of common apples for cider or stock. Trees 

 M'ith heads only four feet from the ground, are always easy 

 of access, and the natural spread of the branches affords 

 a great protection to the tnmk at all seasons. JSTursery- 

 men should by all means encourage by precept and ex- 

 ample the cultivation of low-headed trees. 



Starting with the yearling trees for standards, we 

 examine the habit of the variety, whether stout or slen- 

 der, whether branched, as many varieties are the first 

 season, or without branches. Before proceeding to the 

 operation of cutting down to increase the size of the 

 trmik, the reader is referred to the principles and prac- 

 tices of pruning in the first jjart of the work. Ko prun- 

 ing should be attempted fDr the attainment of any special 

 purpose without liaving first carefully studied these. 



If slender and M'ithout side branches, as in fig. 88, 

 they should be cut back twelve to twenty inches, as at J.. 



