TIME TO PRUNE 137 



small branches. It is a very common mistake to prune out too 

 large branches while removing the same total amount of wood 

 from the tree. This means that in some parts of the top we have 

 made large holes where there is no wood whatever, while in 

 other parts the top is as thick as before. Branches the size of 

 a man's finger are the ideal size. This kind of pruning requires 

 more work, in some cases much more work, but it is worth the 

 extra effort. And the tendency to overdo the pruning is less. 



Third. — Cut out dead or diseased or broken branches. This 

 needs no discussion except to say that in some diseases, like black 

 knot and canker, it is not always possible to remove all the 

 affected branches. Sometimes the branch is of so much impor- 

 tance that it must be cured if possible. 



Fourths. — Shorten back the leaders where they are going 

 too high or are spreading too far. In doing this do not leave a 

 straight stub but take them back to a side shoot. The importance 

 of keeping the trees down where they can be sprayed and picked 

 and pruned easily can hardly be overestimated. 



Fifth. — Take out the water-sprouts altogether where they are 

 not needed and shorten them back severely where they are 

 needed. In this type of tree, the well-cared-for, bearing tree, 

 there are usually few water-sprouts and no need of preserving 

 them. But if they are needed it is merely to reclothe a branch 

 with bearing wood and they should therefore be cut back each 

 year to one or two buds. This ought to gradually cause the for- 

 mation of fruit spurs. If not they should be taken out altogether. 



Sixth. — Cut out crossing branches or such as tend to grow back 

 into the tree. There are not likely to be many of these where 

 the pruning is attended to yearly, yet there are always a few. 



Seventh. — Thin the balance of the top where it is needed. 

 As with the young tree, there is usually not much left to thin 

 after all the other points are looked after. 



Time to Prune. — It remains to discuss briefly a few general 

 questions which are sure to come up where the subject of pruning 

 is being discussed. The first of these is the season of the year 

 at which pruning should be done. It does not make much differ- 

 ence. Summer and winter pruning have already been discussed, 

 ^nd barring the difference brought out in that discussion; there is 



