250 



Principles of Plant Culture. 



is less serious than that of a large one. Forming the 

 head of fruit trees of three or four main branches is to 

 be discouraged for this reason. Several small branches 

 from a common trunk are better, and these should be en- 



FIG. 164. Apple tree pruned with open bead, to admit abundant light. 



couraged to leave the trunk at nearly right angles (Fig. 

 157). Forks in the trunk of fruit trees, dividing the 

 wood into two nearly equal parts are objectionable, as 

 one or the other part is very liable to split down under 

 the weight of a heavy fruit crop. 



