The Aim in Pruning 



231 



begins the very year in which 

 the plants are put into the 

 ground. Trees alternately 

 neglected and heavily pruned 

 are kept in a condition of upset 

 that is likely to interfere with 

 the best satisfaction in fruit- 



FlG. 71. Fruit-spur forming at the side. 



growing. 



The aim in pruning 



is to keep the top open, 



to remove superfluous 



and interfering parts, to 



maintain a size and 



shape that admits of 



easy spraying and fruit- 



gathering and other labor, 



to eliminate diseases and injured branches, to encourage 



the fruit-bearing wood. How to accomplish these results 



is to be determined by practice. A good pruner has "an 



eye" for the work, and 

 he undertakes it care- 

 fully as an artisan 

 skilled in the opera- 

 tion. Pruning is not 

 carpentering. 



It is easy to overdo 

 pruning. It is not 

 primarily the removal 

 of wood, but the work- 

 ing out of a purpose. 

 Pruning is mostly for 



FIG 72 Shoot grown too long for probable 

 fruit-bearing. There will be an alternation of 

 fruit-bearing on this spur. 



training 



, 

 trCCS, and 



Ul VOUng 

 t( 



