266 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



year-old tree first set out. Continue this system of building 

 scaffold upon scaffold of limbs around a central leader until 

 three or four sets of limbs are formed, then the subsequent 

 pruning should consist in removing superfluous branches, 

 those which tend to grow crosswise, and in heading back 

 branches which are making too great a growth. Much of the 

 necessary training of a tree can be done during the early 

 summer by pinching off the growths which later would neces- 

 sitate heavier pruning. A moderate pruning each season is 

 better than no pruning for two or three years followed by a 

 heavy one which disturbs the equilibrium and starts a growth 

 of water sprouts. 



Winter protection of young 1 trees. Sudden and extreme 

 changes in temperature . occurring during the winter often 

 cause an injury to the bark of young trees known as sun- 

 scald. The wind often blows the trees about to such an 

 extent that a hole is formed in the ground about the base of 

 the tree, in which water may stand and freeze with dis- 

 astrous results in some cases. 



Mice, rabbits, and wood chucks cause annual and serious 

 depredations to thousands of young fruit trees over the 

 country. 



In order to prevent losses from such causes as are men- 

 tioned above, the young trees for several years after planting 

 should be projected by mounding and wrapping in the fall. 

 Details of this work can not be given here, but good judg- 

 ment and constant vigilance will guide the orchardist in his 

 efforts to save j^oung trees. 



Cultivating the young orchard. The following systems 



