-3- 



troyed. A striiiing example of this is sometimes seen where a 

 tree, such as a xilllov;, is cut off a few feet from the ground. 

 Obscure buds just below the point of cutting suddenly find an 

 opportunity for grov/th, which was denied them so long as normal 

 growth channels v/ere open. A whorl of vigorous sprouts is the 

 result. 



In an apple tree, sprouts commonly appear along the 

 branches after a cold winter bec:.uso the conducting channels to 

 many of the normal buds have been disrupted. Here the adventi- 

 tious buds provide a growth outlet. Tree growrth is literally 

 shunted into nev; channels v/hen normal channels fail. This is 

 Nature's way of meeting an emergency^ a kind of insurance against 

 disaster. 



The writer recalls seeing an orchard which bore unmis- 

 takable evidence that a previous primer v/as intent upon elimin- 

 ating all upright growing branches. Every upright growth had 

 been removed and the following season there were at least twice 

 as many growing in the same direction. Young vigorous limbs 

 having efficient connections v/ith the root system can scarcely 

 be removed without calling into activity other potential growing 

 points, advantageously situated. The larger and more vigorous 

 the limb removed, the more likely v;ill otherwise dormant growing 

 points assume an active role, numerous suckers or v/ater sprouts 

 following the pruning operation always indicate the removal of 

 relatively vigorous branches. And as most growers are well aware, 

 removal of all sucker growth in a tree is usuallj^ followed by a 

 prompt replacement, if not a multiplication. V/e cannot correct 

 the mistake of faulty pruning by more pruning of the same kind. 



In a young tree it is obvious that we should prune only 

 enough to eliminate \/eak crotches and to maintain a balance be- 

 tween the leader and the side branches. Fewer sprouts will ap- 

 pear if corrective cuts are made early. In older trees there 

 should be little need for the corrective type of pruning. It is 

 wasteful of time and profits to make over the framev/ork of a tree 

 after it reaches bearing age. In bearing trees we sare interested 

 in getting rid of the older, submerged, and often drooping parts 

 of branches. Cuts of this kind may be made without encouraging 

 sprout growth. It isn't the size of the pile of prunings that 

 determines the number of sprouts. It's the kind of growth v,'e've 

 left on the tree. If we remove the right branch'is in a bearing 

 tree, relatively few sprouts will appear. 



Do You I-Cnov'/ 



?n 



That "The Best Salesmen for More Apples ere Good Apples? 



That it takes about 10 inclies of snow, on the average, 

 to equal one inch of rainfall? 



That there may be as many as 30,000,000 bacteria in a 

 single gram of soil? Ten to 20 m.illion is nearer the average. 

 Soils high in colloids and organic material, usixally have a higher 

 content of bacteria than coarser soils. 



