16 



8. Never cut away the main branches of a tree if it can be 

 avoided, but thin out the head, when it becomes crowded, from ihe 

 outside. This can be quiclily done with the pruning hook on a long 

 pole, and little or no injury will result, while if the large branches 

 are cut from the trunk the tree is weakened and soon dies or is 

 broken down. 



9. Cut off dead branches as soon as discovered and cover the 

 wound with paint to prevent further decay. 



10. In training young trees, start the branches low, the trees 

 will grow better, the thinning and gathering of the fruit will be more 

 easily done and the cultivation can be as well and cheaply done with 

 the modern acme, or spring-tooth harrow and weeder as if the head 

 was higher, while the trunk of the tree and the ground under it will 

 be so protected that growth will be better than if more exposed. 



SPECIAL PRUNING. 



The Peach. This tree requires special pruning to keep it in a 

 o.ompact stocky form as it tends to grow largely at the ends of the 

 branches and to produce few laterals on the main branches. While 

 the trees are young, at least one-half of the last season's growth 

 should be cut off during the latter part of the winter, varying the 

 amount cut from different parts of the trees so as to produce a regu- 

 larly formed head. As the trees grow older this pruning reduces 

 the number of fruit buds, and thus lessens the cost of thinning and 

 improves their growth. It also often becomes necessary to cut back 

 some of the main branches well into the center of the tree to force a 

 lateral growth of new wood, without which the long branches would 

 soon break down when heavily loaded with fruit, or with foliage wet 

 with rain in a high wind. 



The Plum and Cherry. The special pruning required by these 

 two fruits is the heading in of strong leading shoots while young to 

 cause a stocky, compact growth that can be easily cared for. Pinch- 

 ing the shoots while young will often accomplish the same end. 



The Grape. The grape vine will stand more pruning without 

 injury than any other fruit crop we grow, and bv the modern method 

 of training, the whole vine is practically renewed every two years. 

 The fruit is grown on the vigorous young wood of the last season's 

 growth and the more vigorous and well ripened this wood the better 

 will be the product. Pruning may be done at any time after the 



