CHAPTER XXV 

 PRUNING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PARTICULAR FRUITS 



In a preceding chapter were discussed some of the more important 

 general or mass effects of pruning. • Mention was made also of the more 

 specific influence of certain practices on fruit-spur, shoot or fruit-bud 

 formation in particular parts of the tree, though this concerned the 

 general aspects of those questions rather than the particular applications 

 presented by different fruit plants. Another chapter attempts to explain 

 in some detail the fruit bearing habits of the more connnon fruits. There 

 remains for discussion the adaptation of pruning practices to plants hav- 

 ing these different methods of bearing so that maximum annual produc- 

 tion may be obtained along with the form of tree or plant most conducive 

 to long hfe and economy in production. It should not be inferred, 

 however, that all fruit plants with the same fruiting habit should be 

 pruned alike. Their general growing habits, that is, the amount and 

 character of their new vegetative growth, may be quite different and 

 necessitate equally diverse pruning treatments. Though the Winter 

 Nelis pear has essentially the same bearing habit as the Maiden Blush 

 apple, the two must be pruned quite differently because they are so 

 unlike in their vegetative growth and the red raspberry with essentially 

 the same fruiting habit as the black raspberry should be pruned more 

 sevei'ely because of its great tendency to sucker; many other instances 

 might be cited. 



Broadly speaking, pruning may be said to influence fruit-bud and 

 fruit formation — bearing habit — in two ways, directly and indirectly. 

 Its most important direct influence is to thin the crop through the removal 

 of actual or potential fruit-bearing wood. Another rather direct influence 

 is its effect on the location or distribution of fruiting wood, both spurs 

 and shoots. Its indirect influence is effected mainly through changing 

 nutritive conditions within the tree and consequently limiting or encour- 

 aging fruit-spur or fruit-bud formation. As these indirect effects have 

 been considered rather fully in the preceding chapters but little attention 

 is given them here. Furthermore no attempt is made to discuss the 

 influence of different pruning treatments on the fruiting habits of any of 

 the tropical or subtropical fruits or of a number of the less common and 

 less important deciduous fruits. 



Pruning the Apple and the Pear. — As has been pointed out, apple and 

 pear flowers are for the most part borne terminally on short growths 



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