126 PRUNING 



shoots have grown from one to six inches they produce a single, 

 terminal blossom, which of course stops any further growth in 

 that direction. The pruning ought therefore to aim at keeping 

 the tree growing with reasonable vigor, and at keeping up a 

 supply of new wood. 



General Principles of Pruning. — It seems worth while to 

 notice next a very few general principles which apply with 

 greater or less force to the pruning of any tree. 



Fia. 63. — Blossoms of the European phim. Notice the blossoms and small or rudimentary 



leaves from each winter bud. 



Fig. 64. — Cherries just set. Notice that only one (or two) in each cluster is developing. 



The rest will be crowded out in the struggle for existence. 



Heavy Pruning and Vigorous Growth. — The first, and by all 

 means the most important of these, is that a heavy pruning of 

 the top during the dormant season will tend to cause a very 

 vigorous wood growth the following season. This is exactly 

 what might be expected and is easily explained if one will think 

 the matter over a little. When the tree goes into the winter there 

 is normally a balance between the top and tlie root system. Each 

 one has grown enough so that when spring comes 'round again 

 and growth begins, the roots can supply tiie food and water that 

 will be needed to make a natural, typical growth of the top. 

 Now comes along the pruner and takes off twenty-five to fifty 

 per cent, of that top. The result is that there remains one hun- 



