2S4 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



first of June, and again about the last of 

 August or first of September. 



The trees are well watered and man- 

 ured and make a rapid growth. 



Fig. 3. Another Tree Grown and riuned in a 

 Manner Similar to That Already Described. 



Fig. 4. Represents the Same Tree After PruninR. 

 Photos Cottrtcttu Yal-iiiia Orchard ^rciirifics Co. 



The Natural Method 



Pruning is as natural and as old as any 

 other orchard operation. Nature has al- 

 ways adopted this method for reducing 

 the exceedingly large number of buds and 

 small sprouts from growing into large 

 branches and thereby over-taxing the en- 

 ergies of the tree. She not only prunes 

 regularly and at the right time but she 

 prunes without leaving large and ugly 

 scars on the tree. We should try to copy 

 after nature by doing the work at the 

 proper time and in that way will not only 

 remove the small branches but keep the 

 tree in shape throughout. It is quite com- 

 mon to wait until undesirable habits of 

 .growth have established themselves and 

 then begin a general thinning out and 

 shaidng of the tree. The effect of this 

 Idnd of pruning generally results in some 

 kind of injury to the plant. 



It is a very hard matter to give definite 

 instructions about how to prune trees 

 since there are no two trees that are ex- 

 actly alike. No two trees can be pruned 

 alike if they are pruned properly. "Prun- 

 ing is a matter of judgment, not a rule." 

 No one can tell you how to prune your 

 trees without seeing them. While this 

 is true there are a few principles which 

 may apply everywhere and if the fruit 

 grower follows them he ought to avoid 

 making many mistakes in pruning. The 

 l)est rule is to prune regularly and at 

 the proper time. If the tree is neglected 

 for a few years and then severely pruned 

 it is likely to make a very vigorous 

 growth of wood in order to restore the 

 balance which the pruner has upset. If 

 the tree is cut back severely the roots 

 immediately endeavor to restore the 

 e'luilibrium by producing a vigorous top 

 growth or heavy growth of suckers or 

 sjjrouts. This is likely to cause a re- 

 duction of fruit. Sometimes trees which 

 produce a large growth are shy bearers. 

 It is better to prune a little every year 

 and not a large amount every three 

 or four years. If trees are growing too 

 fast the worst thing that can be done is 

 to remove a large amoimt of wood dur- 

 ing the winter. That only stimulates 

 the tree to grow that much faster. If 

 the desire is to check the growth it can 



