\J 



PRUNING 89 



pruning would have a tendency to restrict furt.her the 

 growth activity. 



2. An abundance of moisture, nitrates, and carbohydrates 

 would result in rapid vegetative extension. Under these 

 conditions, it is probable that more time would 

 be required to manifest a dwarfing of the tree 

 by pruning than when one or more were lacking. 



3. The ideal situation would exist if there 

 were present or available a moderate Init ample ft f 

 amount of nitrogen, together with carbohy- ^\ ' 

 drates, in case the latter are synthesized in excess \^ 

 of the quantities utilized in vegetative exten- 

 sion, that is, an ample reserve food supply 

 would be present within the tree. The result 

 would be a good growth and a rather free de- ^ J / 

 velopment of reproductive parts. It is sug- 

 gested that pruning may or may not be needed, 

 but usually some is required. Pruning would fur- 

 nish a ready practical means of regulating the 

 nitrogen-moistiu'e-carbohydratc relation. 



4. A fourth condition is frequently encountered 

 in old neglected orchards or with trees damaged in 

 such a way as to approximate girdling. In such 

 cases, there is usually a depressed vegetative con- 

 dition, the trees bearing small light-colored leaves, 

 and they may or may not produce abundant 

 blossoms which are not likely to "set" well. Fre- 

 quently such trees contain carbohydrates in excess, 

 as compared with the availal)le nitrate nitrogen, 

 or moisture, or both. In order to effect a Fig. 24. 

 balance and induce vigorous growth and bios- Showing the type 

 soms capable of setting fruit, either of two ^qj^^^q^i rj!, 

 procedures might be followed but preferably jo^^g ^^^ cutting 

 both. Top-pruning would reduce the total of the terminal. 



