APPLES 



279 



Figures (i ami 7 aio Ganoes. and the 

 measurements are as follows: 



Fig. 6 hearted near the ground, meas- 

 ured in circumferenre at the base 46 

 inches. 



Fig. 7 headed 24 inches high, circum- 

 ference at base, 40 inches. 



Fig. 8 headed at the ground. Newtown 

 Spitzenburg, 43 inches. 



Fig. 9 same variety, headed 35 inches 

 high, 2514 inches circumference. 



Fig. 11 Esopus Spitzenburg. headed 1G 

 inches high. 41 inches in circumference. 



Fig. 12 Esopus Si>itzenburg. headed at 

 the ground, see Fig. 7. 



In every case the top system of the 

 low headed tree was stronger, healthier 

 and larger. No records have been kept of 

 the bearing, but from memory would say 

 that the fruit yielded is in proportion to 

 the size of the tree. 



The accompanying cut is used to rep- 

 resent a wrong method of pruning. 

 1 



JL_ 



Fig. 10. Pen sketch ol frame work of four 

 year old tree which bore 41 apples. 



According to our belief, the tO]) should 

 have been started at cross mark, rather 

 than thrice that height, because it could 

 have born its fruit with less than half 

 the strain and w'ould have been less like- 

 ly to lean or break by the force of the 

 winds. . 



However, in traveling over the country. 



w'e have discovered that all conditions are 

 not the same, in fact, no two places are 

 exactly alike in climate, soil, or other 

 environments, and that what might be 

 better under one , set of circumstances 

 would not be wise under vastly different 

 conditions. For instance, in Eastern 

 Colorado and Western Kansas, where the 

 winds are strong and the sun hot, it is 

 better to head the trees at the ground 

 to prevent leaning, breaking and sun 

 scald. In the coves of the hills or moun- 

 tains, where the trees are protected from 

 the winds, there would be little danger 

 of injury from winds and in a humid 

 climate little danger from sun scald. We 

 give, therefore, views from several au- 

 thors with wide experience in several 

 states. These views differ in many par- 

 ticulars but are doubtless the results of 

 exi)erience in the various sections from 

 which they come. 



Gri.\NVILI,E LOWTIIICI! 



Pruning' When Transplaiitius' 



We are ready to set the tree and the 

 problem of pruning is before us. It is nec- 

 essary to cut away part of the branches 

 to enable the injured root system to sup- 

 ply the remaining branches with water. 

 The less the roots are injured the less 

 the top need be cut away. Both theory 

 and experience lead to the belief that 

 fruit growers usually make a mistake in 

 the manner of pruning newly set trees. 

 The common way is to cut back all of 

 the branches. This, in many cases, is 

 wrong. The top buds on a branch develop 

 soonest and produce the lar,gest leaves. 

 Now a newly-set tree will grow best if it 

 can develop a large leaf surface before 

 dry, hot weather sets in, and this it will 

 do if some branches are left intact. There- 

 fore, instead of shortening-in all branches, 

 cut away some or the branches entirely. 

 The tree so pruned will start growth and 

 acquire vigor more quickly and a batter 

 top can be formed. There are some cases 

 in which certain fruits or varieties pro- 

 duce abnormally long branches by the end 

 of the second year which may have to be 

 cut back. 



At the end of the second year the root s.ys- 

 tem will have a good start and if the whole 



