Pruning. 253 



b Trimming or dressing, when applied to young 

 nursery stock, is the shortening of both roots and stem, 

 preparatory to planting in nursery rows. The roots 

 are shortened to facilitate planting, and the stems are 

 shortened to reduce the number of buds (409 c). 



c Topping is the removal of the flower stalk, as in 

 tobacco, to prevent exhaustion of the plant by the for- 

 mation of seed. 



d De tasseling is the removal of the staminate flow- 

 ers (tassels) of undesirable plants of Indian corn, to 

 prevent pollination from them (150). 



eSuckering is the removal of shoots that start about ) C 

 the base of the stem, or in the axils of the leaves, as 

 in Indian corn or tobacco. Its object is to prevent ex- 

 haustion of the plant by the production of needless 

 shoots. 



f Disbudding is the removal of dormant buds, to 

 prevent the development of undesirable shoots. 



g Ringing is the removal of a narrow belt of bark 

 about a branch, to obstruct the current of prepared 

 food (138). 



h Notching is the cutting of a notch just above or 

 below a bud or twig to modify its growth. 

 \ A ^Thinning fruit is the removal of a part of the 

 'fruits upon a plant, to permit the remaining ones to 

 attain larger size, and to prevent exhaustion of the 

 plant by excessive seed production. 



j Deflowering or defruiting is the removal of flower- 

 buds or fruits to prevent exhaustion of the plant (139). 



k Root pruning is the shortening of the roots of 

 plants in the soil, to check growth, or to stimulate the 

 formation of branch roots nearer the trunk (104). 



