PRUNING 99 



The value of the practice seems to depend on the variety, 

 soil, climate, time, and particularly the type of pruning (of 

 which there are veiy many), and doubtless on the internal 

 condition of the tree. It is true that summer pruning will 

 often decrease vegetative growth, but it does not necessarily 

 follow that fruitfulness accompanies such enfeebled growth. 

 Some experiments have been conducted to detennine the 

 value of this practice, but it scarcely seems possible as yet 

 to hannonize the views held by different investigators on 

 its value, but certainly it is pernicious at times. Doubtless 

 the difficulty is due to the different methods employed and to 

 the vaiying influence exerted on the materials manufac- 

 tured and stored. Some have practiced both a thinning- 

 out and heading-back of the branches relatively early or 

 late in any given season, while others have merely pinched 

 the tips of the branches. The results must, therefore, vary 

 accordingly. 



For eastern conditions the consensus of opinion seems 

 to be that summer pruning is not a desirable practice, as 

 the trees are enfeebled and the effects on bearing are doubt- 

 ful, often negative, and frequently the yield is decreased. 

 In England where dwarf trees are rather widely grown, 

 there is some difference of opinion on its value, ^ but the 

 growers are more favorable to summer pinching if any 

 treatment is to be given. However, Bedford and Picker- 

 ing - report after ten years' work that "Summer pruning, 

 shaping, or pinching, seem to have been followed by no good 

 results in the case of our trees, rather the reverse; and we 

 should not, therefore, recommend such treatment." 



Dickens ^ reports a successful use of summer pruning 



1 Gardener's Chronicle. 3d Series, Vol. 41, pp. 400-40.3; 406-407. 

 1907. Jour. Royal Hort. Soc, Vol. 33, Part 2, pp. 487-499. 1908. 

 ^Woburn Expt. Fruit Farm, 5th Rcpt. 1905. 

 » Dickens, A. Kans. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 136. 1906. 



