HUM 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PKACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



with this main framework are then re- 

 moved. In the next year's pruning, at 

 the conclusion of two years' growth, the 

 central leader is again selected and cut 

 off at the same length as in the previous 

 year; the 1-year-old whorl of branches at 

 its base is examined and pruned in about 

 the same manner as the previous year, 

 leaving three or four twigs to form main 

 limbs, and the lower whorl, which now 

 has two years' growth on each branch, is 

 treated in much the same way that the 

 pyramidal top has been treated, namely, 

 the leader for each branch is selected and 

 headed back, leaving it about two-thirds 

 as long as the leader at the top of the 

 tree. At the base of the leader on the 

 two-year wood about two or three secon- 

 dary branches are selected and headed 

 back, so as to subordinate them to the 

 leader, and the other twigs on these 

 branches are cut off. All of these main 

 branches are selected with reference to 

 their forming the framework of the tree 

 exactly as described in pruning for the 

 vase form of tree. Temporary fruiting 

 branches may be left in the same manner 

 also as described in that form. Water 

 sprouts and limbs in undesirable places 

 are of course removed. 



The third-year pruning of the pyra- 

 midal form proceeds on the same lines, 

 the upper part of the tree being pruned 

 exactly as in the previous years, the only 

 addition being that one more joint is 

 added to each main branch and one more 

 set of lateral branches has to receive at- 

 tention each year. The pyramidal form 

 of tree does not change, and the general 

 plan of pruning continues the same 

 through its entire life. The only thing to 

 avoid in this type of tree is the tendency 

 to become too thick and bushy in the re- 

 peated heading back which it receives. 

 To avoid this the pruner should be pre- 

 pared to thin out unnecessary branches 

 as well as to cut back. Fruit spurs will 

 begin to form on the branches after the 

 third year. These may be left tempo- 

 rarily and afterwards cut away. It Is un- 

 desirable even in the temporary form to 

 allow young branches to become thickly 

 grown with lateral fruit spurs, for the 



reason that such spurs are not nearly so 

 well nourished as those on smaller 

 branches carrying vegetative shoots, and 

 furthermore such branches are a great 

 (leal more liable to destruction by pear 

 blight. These numerous lateral fruit 

 spurs when in bloom afford many oppor- 

 tunities for blossom-blight infection, and 

 when such a branch is attacked by blos- 

 som blight the disease has only a very 

 short distance to run from the fruit spur 

 into the main limb, which it can girdle 

 with a minimum aniout of diffusion. 



Tlip Natural Form 



In each of the other two forms of fruit 

 trees the aim is to curb the tendency of 

 the trees and their individualities. The 

 tree is made to conform to the ideal in 

 the mind of the pruner. If too many up- 

 right branches are thrown out they are 

 headed back and made to sprout laterally; 

 but, on the other hand, if the tree has a 

 spreading or drooping tendency the lower 

 branches are pruned off and the more up- 

 right ones are encouraged. In this way 

 all varieties are made to grow as nearly 

 alike as possible. It is by no means en- 

 tirely possible, however, to entirely curb 

 the natural tendencies, and it can be done 

 only approximately. The natural form, 

 on the other hand, allows the tree to de- 

 velop its own individuality. But some 

 pruning is absolutely necessary, even if 

 the idea of the natural form is to be car- 

 ried out. In planting out, the branches 

 may at least be headed back to spurs 

 three or four inches long. As far as prun- 

 ing is concerned, the trees may then be 

 practically neglected for the first two or 

 three years, but it is better to look them 

 over every year and remove water 

 sprouts and any branches which interlace 

 and chafe and to examine for any wounds 

 which should receive attention. Trees of 

 this sort will come into fruiting earlier 

 than those beaded back and manipulated 

 into an ideal form, for the reason that 

 the vegetative tendency is not encour- 

 aged at all. As soon as the reproductive 

 tendency develops It is allowed unre- 

 stricted course. However, the difficulties 

 of reaching the fruit in the case of tall 

 pyramidal trees, the tendency to break 



