APPLES 



293 



Fig. 1. A Neglected Apple Tree. 



Fig. 2. The Same Tree After Pruning. 



er it becomes top-heavy and too many 

 fruitspurs are formed. Following this 

 condition the tree sets more fruit than it 

 can properly mature and as the years go 

 by the fruit gradually becomes under- 

 sized. Careful pruning simplifies and 

 often renders unnecessary the thinning 

 of the fruit. The best pruning is that 

 which Is done during the formative per- 

 iod. It is better to train the tree during 

 its younger years than to use the pruning 

 saw severely when it is grown. The head 

 of the tree should be opened to admit the 

 sunlight, and all branches which inter- 

 fere should be removed. Any branch which 

 is growing towards the center of the tree 

 rather than outward should also be taken 

 out 



In the removal of any large branches 

 care should be taken to make the cut 

 close and parallel to the remaining stem. 

 WTienever a stub Is left the wound will 

 not heal properly. If the wound is more 

 than two inches in diameter the surface 

 should be coated with some antiseptic and 

 waterproof material such as white lead. 



The best time to prune in this section 

 is after the severe weather of winter is 

 past and from then on to the middle of 

 May, with the exception of the brief per- 

 iod just at the leafingout time when the 

 tree is liable to bleed badly. 



For Iowa conditions a low-headed tree is 

 to be desired for a number of reasons. 

 The fruit is much easier to pick, the 

 spraying can be done more thoroughly, 

 there are less windfalls, and the tree is 

 also less liable to sun scald. The first 

 branches should be formed 20 to 24 inches 

 above the ground. If the tree Is headed 

 too high when it comes from the nursery, 

 it can be cut back, removing the stem at 

 the poirt where it is desired that the first 

 branches shall appear. Low-headed trees 

 are sometimes objected to on the ground 

 that they are difficult to cultivate under. 

 In this connection, we would call atten- 

 tion to the fact that many growers make 

 a far more laborious and difficult opera- 

 tion of cultivating than is necessary or 

 desirable. The bulk of the feeding roots 

 of the tree are in a zone at about the 



