Pruning. 



249 



planted nursery rows often have trunks insufficiently de- 

 veloped to support the head, when planted by themselves. 

 To remedy this defect, we promote the formation of new 

 vascular bundles (68, 124) by inducing branching, which 

 we accomplish by cutting back the top in proportion to 

 the slenderness of the trunk (423). 



FIG. 163. Unpruned apple tree, with head too dense to admit light. 



b of the Branches. Trees expected to support heavy 

 crops of fruit, or to endure high winds, should have 

 branches developed with special reference to strength. 

 In such cases, several medium to small branches are better 

 able to endure the strain than a few large ones (245 b) r 



and the loss to the tree of a small branch, should it occur,, 

 15 



