106 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1899. 



moisten the saw. We have seen many a fine orchard ruined, 

 yea destroyed, by being severely pruned in March, April and 

 May. Now the right time to prune depends on the object in 

 view. For vigor and growth, prune during the dormant period 

 of fall — October and November — but never when the wood is 

 frozen, as the cellular tissues are ruptured and incipient decay 

 begins. Now for stimulating fruit buds prune the rampant 

 summer growth of terminal branches, which checks the vigor- 

 ous flow of sap and diverts this energy into fruit production. 

 In a word, prune in Foil for wood, in Summer for fruit. 



THINNING FRUIT. 



By a new method of pruning we do much of our thinning- 

 out of inferior fruit. This can be done in January instead of 

 July. All commercial orchardists acknowledge the tact that to 

 produce first-class marketable fruit that the crowded specimens 

 must be thinned. Now during the busy season of raid-summer 

 when the fruit is one-half grown, the average fruit-growing 

 farmer has too much other work on hand, just at this important 

 time in the rapidly developing fruit, to take the necessary time 

 and care to properly thin out the surplus fruit. And I am 

 sorry to admit that too many of them belong to that class who 

 often are heard to say " I kinder reckon that enuff of them 

 apples will fall without us helpen 'em before they git ripe." 

 Now every progressive grower unll take time to properly thin 

 out, so as to produce the very best in size, color and flavor 

 that is possible for the tree ; about six inches apart, will give 

 the best crop for profit. Now my new method of winter pruning 

 is a successful and expeditious means of accomplishing this 

 indispensable work by pruning or thinning out all the weaker 

 spurs of fruit buds that are set too thickly on the branches. 



MY METHOD 



is as follows : during the mild warm days in December and 

 January, we firmly secure to a long pole for a handle a small 

 and sharp-pointed key-hole saw. Also, for inside tree pruning 

 have another saw in a shorter handle. Also, fasten a thin and 



