HIGH HEADING 55 



uncalloiisecl leaf scars to the weather. There is the additional 

 objection to autumn planting that, since the roots are not well 

 established in the soil, the tree can not withstand unfavorable 

 winter conditions so well. Alternate freezing and thawing is 

 likely to make trouble, particularly if the soil is at all heavy. 



The chief advantages of spring planting are that the grower 

 gets his trees in better condition and that the danger from winter 

 injury is avoided. The main objection to spring jDlanting is that 

 it is likely to be delayed until too late in the season. In the 

 writer's experience the ideal time to set trees is just as early in 

 the spring as the soil is in good condition to work. 



Pruning after Setting. — After the tree is set it must be 

 pruned (Fig. 21). If it is a one year whip this pruning con- 

 sists merely in cutting it off or heading it at the height desired. 

 Just what this height shall be wull varj'- greatly with differejit 

 men. It will also vaiy witli different varieties. Such drooping 

 varieties as the Rhode Island Greening apple, for example, ought 

 certainly to be headed higher than such very upright growing 

 varieties as the Sutton apple or the Wickson plum where there is 

 really no particular excuse for having any trunk at all. And 

 lastly the height of head will vary with the type of tree one wishes 

 to develop. There are three types which are generally recognized 

 and all of which have their advocates. There is, first of all, the 

 leader type in which a central leader is kept ahead of all other 

 branches and from which side branches are taken out at various 

 heights. This makes a strong tree but rather more dense than 

 other types. Then at the other extreme is the open or vase form 

 tree in which the leader is suppressed and all the scaffold branches 

 are taken out within a comparatively short distance, usually from 

 twelve to eighteen inches. This gives a tree which is open to the 

 light and air but which is usually not quite so strong as the leader 

 tree. And lastly we have the modified leader tree which is a 

 compromise between the other two types, with advantages and 

 disadvantages w'hich are about half way between. 



The writer strongl}' favors a low tree and to have a low tree is 

 to head it low. But of course there are two sides to the ({uestion. 



High Heading. — As the writer has heard the matter pre- 

 sented, the principal arguments for a high head are as follows: 



