260 



Principles of Plant Culture. 



In pruning to form an open head (Fig. 162), it is 

 wiser, as a rule, to thin out the smaller branches at 

 some distance from the trunk than to remove large 

 branches at their union with the trunk. The clearer 

 the atmosphere in a given locality, the less thinning 

 of the top is required to produce the maximum number 

 of fruit buds (243). 





l r 



FIQ. 161. Unpruned apple tree, with hea< 

 light. 



426. Pruning for Strength, a of the Trunk. Trees 

 and plants grown in closely-planted nursery rows often 

 have trunks insufficiently developed to support the 

 head, when planted by themselves. To remedy this de- 

 fect, we promote the formation of new vascular bun- 



