APPLES. 83 



four or five leaves at the base of each shoot. 

 Also at the same time the primer should not 

 hesitate to cut out a main branch here and there 

 that may cross or otherwise press against the 

 others. The great object is to secure the admission 

 of the sun's rays between the branches when in leaf. 

 Note the condition " when in leaf", for on that 

 success hinges to a far greater extent than is gener- 

 ally recognised, even by persons who have been 

 long entrusted with the management of trees. 

 Thinning out rather than shortening the main 

 branches, is a golden rule in pruning for the pro- 

 duction of fine fruitful trees. 



It does no harm whatever to remove any shoots 

 and branches in summer that may need removal, 

 and at no other time is it possible to judge with 

 such accuracy what portions to take out for the 

 benefit of the tree. No escape of sap follows to 

 weaken the tree, as is erroneously supposed by 

 persons who talk without thinking, or write 

 without experimenting; but the sap is simply 

 turned into other channels, where it will be of far 

 greater service than in the crowded parts re- 

 moved. When summer pruning is carefully done, 

 very little winter pruning is needed. A few snags 

 may require to be cut back a little closer, and a 

 branch shortened here and there which may be 



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