68 THE NURSERY AND THE ORCHARD. 



of too vigorous wood growth. If immediate bearing is 

 desired, some method of reducing vitality must be re- 

 sorted to, as whatever retards the formation of wood is 

 favorable to the production of fruit. This can be done 

 by pruning in summer. At this time the plant food 

 which was stored up in winter is largely expended, and 

 when a portion of the tree is removed the flow of the 

 sap is retarded, the growth is checked, and the result is 

 the formation of numerous fruit buds, which otherwise 

 would have developed into wood buds. This is done very 

 successfully by pinching oflf the ends of the shoots, as 

 the bruising wounds of the finger retard the growth 

 more effectually than the smooth cuts of a knife. But 

 summer pruning is a severe process, and should be prac- 

 ticed only to a moderate extent. Root pruning is also 

 resorted to for the purpose of retarding growth, or, which 

 is the same, inducing fruitfulness. It consists in sever- 

 ing the roots at a greater or less distance from the trunk, 

 According to the size and vigor of the tree and the pur- 

 pose to be accomplished. In our climate it should be 

 practiced with great caution, and only in cases of very 

 luxuriant growth and obstinate unfruitfulness. 



An unproductive limb may be made to bear by bending 

 it down below a horizontal line, and retaining it in 

 <this unnatural position, which is unfavorable to a free 

 <jirculation, until it becomes permanent. Portions of bark 

 care sometimes removed from trees to render them more 

 fruitful, but the practice is not to be commended. 



Some specific directions will be given for pruning the 

 different fruit trees treated of in this work, which, to- 

 gether with the instructions in this chapter, will be 

 found sufficient for ordinary purposes. 



